Current Rhode Island lets independent voters vote in a partisan primary, but if an independent chooses a party primary ballot at the polls, he or she is considered registered in that party unless the voters fills out a form on the way out, to remain a registered independent.
On April 23, the House passed H7662. It eliminates the need for such a voter to fill out a form after voting in order to remain an independent.
On May 1, a new lawsuit was filed in federal court against the Tennessee law that provdes that signs must be polsted at polling places on primary day, warning that only bona fide party members may choose a partisan primary ballot. Lawson v Hargett, m.d., 3:24cv-538.
Tennessee does not have registration by party.
An earlier lawsuit, Ashe v Hargett, was dismissed because the judge felt none of the plaintiffs had standing. The new lawsuit has different plaintiffs who have a stronger claim to standing.
Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.’s New York petition shows that his ballot label in New York is “We the People.” That means, if he gets on the New York ballot and polls 2% or more of the vote for president, the We the People Party will be ballot-qualified for 2025 and 2026 elections.
On May 2, the Alabama House unanimously passed SB 324, which gives more time for qualified parties to certify their presidential and vice-presidential nominees, and also gives more time for independent presidential candidates to submit their petition.
The fact that the Alabama legislature has moved so quickly to solve the problem that the Democratic National Convention is after the old deadline will put pressure on the Ohio legislature to pass a similar bill. So far there seems to be no bill to do that in Ohio.
On April 17, U.S. District Court Judge Benita Y. Pearson held oral argument in Brunner v LaRose, n.d., 4:23cv-2180. State Supreme Court Justice Jennifer Brunner filed this lawsuit in 2023 against the 2021 Ohio law that says party labels should be on general election ballots for elections for State Supreme Court Justice. There are no party labels for lower level judicial elections.
The state argued that the case should be dismissed. Brunner asked to amend her Complaint, and the judge directed that Brunner should submit her draft to the other side, and if there are no procedural objections, it will be allowed.
Brunner argues that the Ohio law concerning the conduct of state judges bars the state from putting party labels on the November ballot. Brunner must run for re-election in 2026. She is a Democrat.
