Looks like the game of primary election musical chairs may have ended, and now Michigan is left standing. Florida appears to be is in the same boat too, but — what timing! — today Florida Senator Bill Nelson, declaring “the system is broken,” proposed a package of national election reforms including regional primaries, the end of the Electoral College, and a proposal to examine secure internet voting.

The Michigan news came across my desk yesterday from the Detroit News (via Time):

DETROIT — A federal judge on Wednesday ruled Michigan’s presidential primary law unconstitutional and blocked the state from giving voter lists from the Jan. 15 election to the state’s major political parties.

U.S. District Judge Nancy Edmunds agreed with the American Civil Liberties Union, arguing on behalf of several small political parties, that the law’s provision giving the list of voters’ partisan preference only to the Democratic and Republican parties violated the rights of other parties.

What is wrong with our election system that we can’t count votes of folks who have gone to the polls to cast ballots? Entire states of citizens wanting their voices to be heard? Parties can’t agree with states, and states can’t agree with parties. Who loses? The people. What can we do about it? (more…)

Posted in Election 2008, Election Reform, Florida, Michigan, Primary schedule | Comments Off

NEW YORK, NEW YORK – I hopped off the campaign trail last week. I thought I needed some space, but I soon found myself yearning for the ebb-and-flow of election energy. Drama among the Democrats, rifts in the Republican base, increasing turnout, and polling percentages… for a political junkie it is all too addicting. Today’s candidate contests are being held in Wisconsin, Hawaii (for the Dems), and Washington (again). (more…)

Posted in Absentee ballots, Campaign finance, Early voting, Election 2008, Election Day registration, Election Reform, Election administration, Hawaii, Legislation, Mail-in voting, Polling, Primary schedule, Washington, Wisconsin | 1 Comment »

Of all the wild scenarios spun out for the 2008 presidential campaign, perhaps the least likely was the one we face: a Republican contest that was effectively over the morning after Super Tuesday, and a Democratic cage match that could go on and on and on — all the way to a tumultuous and unpredictable convention in August.

I, for instance, offered an unconventional convention scenario back in July, noting that the uniquely early start (called “front loading”) of the primary process, combined with the compressed schedule, could provide a formula for an extended, pitched battle, with no candidate getting close to a majority after Super Tuesday. But I made it clear that this was more likely to happen on the Republican side, where many plausible candidates were running against one another and none seemed to be getting more than tepid support.

The Democrats, on the other hand, already had a front-running candidate, highly regarded by most Democratic partisans, and an enthusiastic electorate that wanted to pick a nominee and get on with the big battle — ending the Bush era once and for all. (more…)

Posted in Convention, Election 2008, Election Reform, Florida, Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Primary schedule, Super Delegate, Texas | Comments Off

PACIFIC PALISADES, CALIFORNIA — With the onset of Super Tuesday, the Press has started reporting on Barack Obama’s ability to mobilize new, youth and Independent voters, the other candidates’ advantages among established, older voters, and Hillary Clinton’s advantage among Hispanic and female voters. This week’s issue of TIME Magazine reports that Obama’s campaign tactics are more effective in states with forward-thinking election law. Iowa, New Hampshire, and Nevada have Same-Day Registration. Florida has early voting, but the DNC has stripped the Sunshine State’s democrats of their delegates, Republicans were able to keep half of theirs. (more…)

Posted in Absentee ballots, California, Colorado, Early voting, Election 2008, Election Day registration, Election Reform, Election administration, Florida, General, Iowa, Legislation, National Holiday, Nevada, New Hampshire, Opinions, Primary schedule, What is Super Tuesday? | Comments Off

HOLLYWOOD, CALIFORNIA –- After tonight’s debate at the Kodak Theater, people (and CNN) kept talking about an Obama-Hillary or Hillary-Obama combo ticket. I don’t know if that is the case… either way the notion will be swamping the airwaves until the 5th thanks to Wolf.

More important, is that we are watching history, and because of that, people of all creeds and colors what to be a part of the action. They want to campaign, they want to caucus, they want to vote, they want a voice, and they want the Country to change its course. (more…)

Posted in California, Election 2008, Election Reform, General, Internet Voting, Iowa, Media reform, Nevada, New Hampshire, Opinions, Primary schedule, South Carolina, What is Super Tuesday? | 1 Comment »

The folks at the great Pew project electionline.org have a fantastic new feature up that I noticed this morning. It’s an Election Day calendar that, ironically, is nine months long! The first voting for president starts January 3, 2008 with the Iowa Caucus, and the “primary season” ends September 20th in Hawaii. Click here for our past coverage of why the primary election season is getting longer and longer, and what it means for you.

* Update: Sorry, I misread the above calendar. June 3rd is the last day for voting in presidential primaries. That’s in Montana, New Mexico (R) and South Dakota. Hawaiians vote in their state primary in September. Sheesh, how much more confusing could it get? Honestly, a six month versus nine month primary election season ain’t much better.

Posted in Election Reform, Primary schedule | 2 Comments »

The primary election schedule tango came a step closer to its grand finale yesterday, as New Hampshire held tight to its traditional role as the “first in the nation” primary election. New Hampshire’s Secretary of State annouced New Hampshireites will vote January 8th, five days after the Iowa caucus.

The Michigan Supreme Court also ruled that state could vote January 15th, which is apparently what was holding up New Hampshire. The New York Times has the full story.

Happy Thanksgiving.

Posted in Election Reform, Michigan, New Hampshire, Primary schedule | Comments Off

The game of musical chairs that is fast becoming our national primary election schedule got a little more dramatic today. Five Democratic presidential candidates took their names off the ballot in Michigan to protest the new and early date of Michigan’s primary.

Michigan Democrats violated Democratic National Committee rules by moving their primary earlier than the national party stipulates. Michigan’s primary is currently scheduled for January 15th, but according to the rules it shouldn’t be before February 5th. Despite today’s decision by their five colleagues, two presidential candidates, both U.S. Senators, decided to stay on the ballot in Michigan. To find out why, and who they are, check out the AP’s coverage of the story.

To read our previous posts about the primary election tango, and learn more about what an increasingly-earlier primary election season means for the voters of America, click here.

Posted in Election 2008, Election Reform, Michigan, Primary schedule | Comments Off

In the last few days there’s been talk of abandoning touch-screen voting in New York, Brad Friedman retraced his summer election reform journey around the country, and there was discussion (transcript, via electionline.org) of a new regional primary plan in the Senate. That Senate plan drew a harsh response from both political parties, according to the San Jose Mercury News.

[The] plan faces opposition and skepticism, notably from the Democratic and Republican national committees, which both registered their opposition, and said the parties should control the nominating process.

“The responsibility for establishing the rules, procedures and dates for selecting delegates to national presidential nominating conventions lies, as it always has, with the national parties, not Congress,” GOP Chairman Robert Duncan wrote Alexander.

We’ll stay on top of it. Look for a vlog about our primary election calendar and why its important to the health of our elections in the weeks ahead.

Posted in Election Reform, Electronic voting, Friends of WT?, New York, Primary schedule, Roundups | Comments Off