"This Time, Ralph's Run Doesn't Make Much Sense"

Micah Sifry offers this analysis in the Washington Post. He also has an analysis here in Mother Jones.

"Split on Policy But United on Process When It Comes to 527s"

FEC Chair Brad Smith and Vice Chair Ellen Weintraub offer this Roll Call oped (paid subscription required). From the oped:

The commission is about to begin a rulemaking in which we will consider whether the Supreme Court’s McConnell decision leads us to rethink our regulations governing political committees. For practical reasons, a rulemaking is better suited for consideration of these fundamental questions. The commission may consider the universe of available options for policy-making, unrestricted by the limited facts (or particular agenda) raised by the requester of a particular Advisory Opinion.

The commission can receive comments, hold hearings to take oral testimony and probe the views of witnesses. This rulemaking will permit the commission to consider carefully the scope of options available under our act, the ramifications of a change in its approach, and the conforming revisions necessary to other parts of our regulations. The two of us may or may not end up agreeing on the content of the resulting regulations, but we do agree on the process.

"Republican 527s Lack Energy"

Roll Call offers this report (paid subscription required). The paper also offers FEC Recusals Irk Watchdogs.

"Legislators Musn't Pass Primary Buck"

The Seattle Post-Intelligencer offers this editorial.

"New Process May Complicate Voting"

See this report on new HAVA-related identification requirements.

527s Battle in Ohio Battleground

See In Ohio, The War Has Already Begun at Salon.

"Does campaign finance reform level field, or confuse it?"

Adam C. Smith offers this column in the St. Petersburg (Fla) Times, which has the subhead: "The rationale behind the restrictions was to limit the influence of big donors. But state and local parties may be caught in the cross-fire."

Oped on electronic voting

Adam Cohen offers The Results are In: And the Winner Is...Or Maybe Not in yesterday's New York Times.

"Extreme Gerrymandering"

These two letters ran in yesterday's New York Times.