Washington state lets ex-felons register to vote, if they have been released and if they have paid all fines and made all court-ordered restitution payments. On July 26, the Washington State Supreme Court ruled 6-3 that nothing in the state or federal constitutions provides any relief for ex-felons who have not paid their fines or restitutions because they can’t afford to do so.

The case is Madison v State, no. 78598-8. The plaintiffs had argued that the effect of the law (requiring that fines and restitutions be paid before an ex-felon may register) amounts to a poll tax. The U.S. Supreme Court had struck down poll taxes in 1966. The Washington State Supreme Court rejected this analogy, saying that since ex-felons have no constitutional right to register to vote anyway, they cannot complain. The Washington State Constitution says “Elections Shall be Free and Equal” but the Court said that is irrelevant. Most state constitutions say “Elections shall be free and equal”, but state courts rarely seem to think that phrase means anything.

On July 25, the Pennsylvania Senate State Government Committee held a hearing on HB 289, which moves the primary (for all state and federal office) from April 22 to February 12. From the comments of State Senators and also from the comments of witnesses, the bill seems to have little or no support.

On July 25, Jim Whitehead said he will not ask for a recount in the July 17 special election for Georgia’s US House seat, 10th district. The final results are Paul Broun 23,529; Jim Whitehead 23,135. Both are Republicans. They placed first and second in the first round on June 25. However, on June 25, Whitehead had 23,555 votes and Broun only had 11,208. Broun won by appealing to Democrats and independents.