The West Virginia Democratic Party recently decided to choose all delegates to the national presidential convention in April, before the May presidential primary. Therefore, the May presidential primary will be mostly a “beauty contest” (i.e., the results will be analogous to a public opinion poll, but have no binding effect). The party also voted to let independents vote in its primaries in 2008. Although, in the past, West Virginia Republicans have let independents vote in their primary, this is the first time West Virginia Democrats have permitted independents to vote.

On May 10, the Vermont House Government Operations Committee passed SB 108, the bill to use Instant Run-off Voting for congressional general elections starting in 2008.

The bill now must go to the House Appropriations Committee and then the House floor. There isn’t time to do those things this year, but the Vermont legislative session lasts for two years. When the legislature re-convenes in January 2008, the bill is expected to complete the last steps in time to take effect for the November 2008 election.

On May 9, the Minnesota Senate passed SF 893. It moves the date for major party presidential caucuses from March to February 12. The bill originally also moved the state’s primary (for office other than president) from September to August, but that provision has been deleted from the bill.