The Illinois legislature has extended the deadline for HB 1685 to pass until August 24. HB 1685 is the National Popular Vote Plan. It had passed both houses of the Illinois legislature months ago, but in different form, so it still isn’t through the legislature.
The lead plaintiff in the Alabama ballot access case has decided to appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court. The case was lost in the 11th circuit on June 29. The issue is the 3% (of the last gubernatorial vote) petition requirement for minor parties and for all independent candidates except presidential independents (presidential independents just need 5,000 signatures).
The attorney for the plaintiff is asking for an extension of time from the U.S. Supreme Court, to file the petition for certiorari. Assuming the extension is granted, this will make it possible for the petition for certiorari to be written after the oral argument in the U.S. Supreme Court in the Lopez Torres New York ballot access case. We will all have a better idea of what the Court is thinking about laws that affect the ability to run for office, after that hearing has been held. That hearing will be on October 3.
On August 22, a lawsuit was filed in state court against a new Florida law, which permits people who sign initiative petitions to remove their names up to 5 months after they have signed. The case is Florida Hometown Democracy v Browning, 2007-ca-2278, Leon County Circuit Court. The plaintiffs are trying to get a statewide initiative on the ballot that would require voter approval for land-use changes. They have collected 300,000 signatures, and their ability to finish the job is threatened by the new law.
On August 22, the Michigan Senate passed SB 624, which sets up a January 15 presidential primary for both major parties.
See here for an Atlanta Journal-Constitution news story about the trial in federal court in Rome, Georgia, concerning the Georgia requirement that voters at the polls show government photo-ID.
