The Albany Times-Union, the daily newspaper for Albany, New York, here asks New York Governor Kathy Hochul to veto S3505B/A4282B. These are the identical bills that move most New York state local partisan elections from November of odd years to November of even years. The bill has no effect on New York city elections, which would continue to be in odd years.

The legislature passed these bills on June 9, and still hasn’t sent them to the Governor. New York’s legislature commonly waits months after passing a bill to send that bill to the Governor. That is considered a courtesy to the Governor, because it gives the Governor much more time to decide whether to sign the bill. After the bill is sent to the Governor, the Governor must act quickly. Thanks to Joe Burns for the link.

On December 4, independent presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., and some supporters filed a federal lawsuit against the Utah independent presidential petition deadline of January 8, 2024. Maxfield v Henderson, 4:23cv-112. Here is the motion for injunctive relief.

In 1983 the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in Anderson v Celebrezze that independent presidential petition deadlines cannot be as early as March. In the wake of that decision, lower courts struck down deadllines in April, May, and June. In 1987, there was a moment at which every state had a means for an independent presidential candidate to get on the ballot in July, August, or September.

But during the years since, many states have moved their deadlines to earlier dates. But Utah is the most extreme. In 2022 the legislature moved the deadline from August to early January. And the Utah deadline realistically is in December, because January 8 is the deadline for the counties to have checked the signatures, which means they must be submitted in December.

In 1984, Lyndon LaRouche sued Utah over its April 15 deadline, and the state admitted it could not defend its deadline, and moved it to September, later moving it to August.

The Peace & Freedom Party, which has its own presidential primary in California, will have three names on the ballot: Cornel West, Claudia De La Cruz, and Jasmine Sherman. Thanks to C.T. Weber for this news.

Claudia De La Cruz is the presidential nominee of the Party for Socialism and Liberation.

Here is the campaign website for Jasmine Sherman.

The PFP primary is not binding. The nominee of the party is chosen in August by the state central committee. The primary is March 5.