[EL] Rundown of statewide ballot measures relating to election law

Wed Nov 5 06:48:28 PST 2014

Folks,

Just posted this  to our "quick blog" after starting to write it as an
email to this list -- see link and content below.

Rob Richie

#############

http://www.fairvoteblog.com/2014/11/democracy-on-ballot-in-election-2014.html

Wednesday, November 5, 2014
Democracy on the ballot in Election 2014
*Huffington Post *has a useful site
<http://elections.huffingtonpost.com/2014/results/ballot-measures>to track
statewide ballots. Voters sent mixed messages. Notable statewide ballot
measure results include:

* Election Day registration maintained in Montana, rejecting repeal placed
on ballot by legislature

* Top Two primary loses two-to-one and in every county in Oregon despite
more than five million dollars spent in its advocacy

* Redistricting commission wins in New York despite divisions in the reform
community and opposition from most editorial board

* Connecticut and Missouri won't allow early voting

* Voters want retirement ages for judges. (Take note, Supreme Court!)

Below  is a full report.

*MONTANA OPPOSES LOSS OF SAME DAY REGISTRATION*

[Put on ballot in party-line vote in legislature.

Referendum LR-126 - Change Late Voter Registration Deadline  Closes late
voter registration the Friday before election day.
100% reporting

Against 202,150 56.8%
For 153,563 43.2%

*NEW YORK BACKS CONTROVERSIAL REDISTRICTING COMMISSION*

Proposal 1 - Redistricting
Creates a redistricting commission to draw district lines every ten years.
99% reporting

Yes 1,576,395 57.3%
No 1,172,717 42.7%

*OREGON VOTERS CRUSH TOP TWO PRIMARY*

Measure 90 - Open Primaries
Creates an open, top-two primary election system.
84% reporting

No 810,868 68.0%
Yes 382,445 32.0%

*CONNECTICUT AND MISSOURI AGAINST EARLY VOTING*

*Connecticut*
Amendment 1 - Absentee Ballots
Allows the legislature to expand early voting.
83% reporting

No 410,142 52.8%
Yes 367,238 47.2%

*Missouri*
Amendment 6 - Allow Early Vote
Establishes a six-day-long early voting period.
99% reporting

No 983,504 70.3%
Yes 414,911 29.7%

*RHODE ISLAND SAYS NO TO CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION*

Question 3 - Constitutional Convention
Dictates whether or not Rhode Island holds a constitutional convention.
99% reporting

Reject 157,015 55.3%
Approve 126,721 44.7%

*VOTERS BACK SPLIT ON SPECIAL ELECTIONS IN FLORIDA, MARYLAND AND UTAH*

*Limited measures, but Utah removes requirement for Lt. Governor appointee
to have special election, while Maryland voters allow counties to have
special elections for county executives. As reported below, Florida voters
retain them for judicial vacancies. *

*Utah - Constitutional Amendment B - Lieutenant Governor *
Removes the requirement that an appointed lieutenant governor stand for
election in the next regular general election following his or her
appointment.
99% reporting

For 256,923 55.6%
Against 204,824 44.4%

*Maryland -  Amendment - County Special Electio*ns
Permits a county charter to provide for filling vacancies in county
executive offices through special elections.
99% reporting

For 1,176,720 80.1%
Against 291,920 19.9%

*FLORIDA, HAWAII, LOUISIANA TENNESSEE ACT ON JUDGES AND ELECTIONS,
RETIREMENT AGE*

*Florida rejects appointments for judicial vacancies*

Amendment 3 - Judicial Vacancies

Allows the governor to fill judicial vacancies by appointing a justice or
judge from a slate of nominees.
100% reporting

No 2,792,619 52.1%
Yes 2,567,630 47.9%

*Hawaii overwhelmingly opposes raising mandatory retirement age for judges*

Amendment State Justices Retirement
Increases the mandatory age of retirement for judges and justices to 80.
100% reporting

No 247,765 76.7%
Yes 75,205 23.3%

*Louisiana rejects raising mandatory retirement age for judges*

Proposition 5 - Repeal Retirement Age
Removes the retirement age requirement from judicial offices.
100% reporting

No 782,393 58.2%
Yes 562,790 41.8%

*Tennessee moves away from judicial elections*

Amendment 2 - Judicial Selection
Empowers the governor to appoint judges subject to confirmation by the
general assembly.
99% reporting

Yes 830,418 60.9%
No 532,779 39.1%

Posted by Rob Richie at 9:46 AM
<http://www.fairvoteblog.com/2014/11/democracy-on-ballot-in-election-2014.html>

<http://www.blogger.com/post-edit.g?blogID=1885963699277502228&postID=1775175684864643536&from=pencil>

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Rob Richie
Executive Director, FairVote
6930 Carroll Avenue, Suite 610
Takoma Park, MD 20912
rr at fairvote.org  (301) 270-4616  http://www.fairvote.org
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