Recently, National Public Radio has run commentary and news on the presidential election to be held in France on April 22. Twelve candidates are on the ballot. NPR pointed out that all candidates on the ballot receive 45 minutes of free TV time. Also, TV news is required to equalize its coverage of anyone on the ballot, on a per-week basis. Thus, if a particular station has carried 90 seconds about one particular presidential candidate, before the week is out, it must have carried 90 seconds about each of the other candidates. Presidential candidates get on the ballot with a petition of 500 signatures of Mayors.

Although the Texas House of Representatives passed the bill to move the primary from March to February overwhelmingly, the bill’s prospects in the Senate are shaky. Many Senators are uncomfortable with having the primary for state office, and for Congress, as early as February. The bill is HB 2017.

Texas is free to have an early presidential primary, and a later primary for other office. Approximately half the states follow this pattern. But, that idea doesn’t seem to be circulating in Texas.

On April 18, the Oregon House Elections, Ethics & Rules Committee passed HB 3040, by a vote of 4-2. The bill legalizes fusion (the ability of two parties to jointly nominate the same candidate). The bill now goes to the Appropriations Committee.