A statutory citizens’ initiative that would impose term limits of 12 consecutive years and 20 years total on Alaska House and Senate members has been disqualified by the Alaska Lieutenant Governor, who claims that such an initiative would be unconstitutional under the state constitution. Here is a story on this. Thanks to FairVote for the heads up!
LNC v Saliba – Page IDs is the 29 page transcript of the Wednesday, August 23, 2023 hearing in Ann Arbor, Michigan, on the Libertarian National Committee’s motion for a Preliminary Injunction in its Trademark usage case against several Libertarian Party members in Michigan. US District Court Judge Judith Levy granted the LNC’s request for a Preliminary Injunction and ruled from the bench that the activities of the defendant Michigan Libertarians did constitute commerce, and that the Lanham Act does protect the LNC’s Trademarked “Libertarian Party.”
Proponents in Idaho of a Nonpartisan Blanket Primary, with the Top Four candidates proceeding to a Single Winner Ranked Choice Voting General Election, started their initiative petition drive in Idaho on Saturday, August 19, 2023.
According to the Idahoans for Open Primaries website, “The initiative applies to all offices that currently involve partisan primaries, with the exceptions of President and precinct committeeman. The initiative will not apply to elections that are currently nonpartisan (mayor, city council, school board, etc.).”
Six percent of Idaho registered voters will have to sign the petition, with a distribution requirement of 6% of registered voters in 18 of the 35 Idaho Senate districts. That means that about 63,000 registered voters statewide will have to sign the petition by May 1, 2024 for the question to be put to voters on November 5, 2024. A majority vote then would be necessary for this to become the law in Idaho.
Here is a story on the initiative. Thanks to Cliff Thies for the scoop!
Eighty years ago today, Richard Winger was born. He is the foremost expert on ballot access in the United States today–and probably ever. He is a national treasure. A person who is irreplaceable by any measure. Please join me in wishing him many more birthdays to come.
On August 27, former U.S. Senator Joseph Lieberman, a leader of the No Labels Party, appeared on Fox News. See this story. He restated the party’s plan to hold a presidential convention in April 2024 in Dallas, Texas.
