South Carolina has long been the only state in which political parties pay for, and administer, their own presidential primaries. However, a bill is likely to pass to provide that the government should pay for them and administer them. Senate Bill 99 passed the Senate by voice vote on April 20. It was amended slightly in the House and passed the House on May 30, by 99-20. Now the Senate must decide whether to concur in the House amendments. Governor Mark Sanford says he is leaning toward vetoing the bill, but if he does, it is possible his veto will be overridden.

If the bill becomes law, all the qualified parties would be eligible for a government-funded presidential primary. That includes the Green, Libertarian and Constitution Parties. The bill provides that parties would still set the date of their own presidential primary, and sets up a state income tax-checkoff for voters who want to voluntarily help pay for the administration of presidential primaries.

The Idaho Republican Party Central Committee meets June 2 in Burley, Idaho. On the agenda is a proposal to pass a party bylaw, saying only members of the party may vote in its primary. If this bylaw proposal passes, the party would then bring a lawsuit to enforce it.

On May 25, North Dakota Secretary of State Al Jaeger announced that he is setting the dates of all party presidential caucuses on February 5. Even though the parties pay for their own caucuses, state law gives the Secretary of State authority to set the dates for their caucuses. Qualified parties in North Dakota are the Republican, Democratic, Libertarian and Constitution Parties.

In 2004, the North Dakota caucuses were also in February, but somewhat later in February.