New Mexico HB 1269 would allow fusion. It is introduced by Rep. Al Park (D-Albuquerque). However, if the candidate is not a member of the party whose nomination is being sought, officers of the party could block that person from seeking its nomination. Also, parties would be entitled to have a bylaw prohibiting any non-member from running for its nomination.
The new Iowa Secretary of State seems to have decided to settle the lawsuit filed in 2005, to gain the right for voters to register into certain unqualified parties. The case is called Iowa Libertarian Party v Culver, U.S. Dist. Ct., 4:05cv-521. Still under discussion is what the guidelines will be to decide which unqualified parties qualify. The previous Secretary of State had already decided to settle this case, but then he was elected Governor and the process had to be started anew with his successor.
On February 20, Colorado HB 1085, which removes many restrictions on who can circulate a petition, lost on the House floor by 28-36. The same bill had passed in 2006 but had been vetoed by the Governor.
On February 22, the California Assembly Elections Committee passed SB 113, to have a presidential primary in February that is separate from the June primary for other office. Democrats on the committee voted “yes”, but Republicans (who are in a minority) voted “no”.
Alabama county elections officials were strictly instructed to tally all write-in votes in the November 2006 election. Almost all counties obeyed, but some of them now desire to get a bill introduced banning write-in votes. It would be far more intelligent for them to ask for a bill providing that declared write-in candidates file a declaration of write-in candidacy, shortly before the election. Then, their burden would be eased; they would only need to tally write-ins for actual write-in candidates. 35 other states already have such laws.
