A U.S. District Court in Tallahassee, Florida, heard from witnesses during the week of June 18-22, in Reform Party USA v O’Hara. Closing arguments are set for Monday, June 25. The case concerns a 3-way battle over the identity of the national Reform Party officers. Judge Robert Hinkle is limiting the closing arguments to only two hours, so the case will go to the jury on Monday. The faction that recognizes Charles Foster as national chair is represented by an attorney. However, the other two factions are pro se. John Blare is representing the faction that recognizes Rodney Martin as national chair, and Jerry Heinemann is representing himself.

Two election law bills of interest are pending in the extended session of the Illinois legislature. HB 1685 is the National Popular Vote Plan, and HB 1752 is the timid improvement in ballot access laws. Both bills were supposed to be enacted by June 22, but on June 22 the legislature extended the deadline for both bills to June 30.

The voters of Ontario Province will vote on October 10, 2007, on this question: “Which electoral system should Ontario use to elect members to the provincial legislature? (1) The existing electoral system (first-past-the-post); or (2) The alternative electoral system proposed by the Citizens Assembly (mixed member proportional)?” The question will be presented in French as well as English.

British Columbia had voted on proportional representation a few years ago, but the British Columbia referendum required 60% for Proportional Representation to win. It failed in British Columbia because it only got 58%. But in Ontario, proportional representation (choice #2) will win if it outpolls choice #1, the existing system. UPDATE: thanks to the individuals who corrected this statement. The Ontario vote also requires a 60% vote.

Mixed member proportional representation means a system in which voters vote first on a district representative, and then, in a separate vote, choose their favorite political party. If, for example, the Green Party wins no district seats, but polls 5% in the “favorite party” question, then it gets 5% of all the seats in the Provincial legislature. Each party submits a “party list” in advance of the election, with their spare candidates listed in order of priority. The “make-up” members are chosen from this list. Thanks to Dan Tokaji and the Election Law blog for this news.