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Vermont Committee Passes IRV Bill

Posted on May 10, 2007 by Richard WingerMay 10, 2007

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.

Virgin Islands Resident Loses Vote Lawsuit

Posted on May 10, 2007 by Richard WingerMay 10, 2007

On May 10, the 3rd circuit ruled that U.S. citizens living in the Virgin Islands may not vote for president. Ballentine v U.S.A, no. 06-4800. The irony is that U.S. citizens who move permanently to a foreign country may continue to vote absentee, forever. They retain their registration in the last state in the U.S. in which they lived. But should they then move to a U.S. territorial possessions, they lose that absentee vote. The 3rd circuit did not write its own opinion; it just it agrees with the U.S. District Court ruling.

Minnesota Senate Passes February Caucus Bill

Posted on May 10, 2007 by Richard WingerMay 10, 2007

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.

Reform Party Petition for Rehearing Denied in FEC Case

Posted on May 10, 2007 by Richard WingerMay 10, 2007

On May 9, the 11th circuit denied the Reform Party’s petition for a rehearing in Federal Election Commission v Reform Party. This is the case in which the FEC has been seeking repayment of $333,000 that it gave to the party for its national convention in 2000. As a result, the national party remains under a court order that it not spend any money on anything except repayment of the debt. Therefore, it is unable to spend money on fund-raising. It is most unlikely the FEC will ever get its money back.

Two California Bills Advance

Posted on May 9, 2007 by Richard WingerMay 9, 2007

On May 9, two California election law bills advanced. AB 1294, which permits all cities and counties to use Instant-Runoff voting for elections for their own officers, passed the Assembly Appropriations Committee. SB 439, which legalizes write-ins when the voter forgets to “X” the box next to the name just written in, passed the Senate Elections Committee.