October 30, 2014 •
Mississippi Supreme Court Dismisses Challenge to U.S. Senate Runoff Election
The Mississippi Supreme Court has sided with Sen. Thad Cochran, ending a protracted legal battle over the results of the Republican primary runoff election. Chris McDaniel challenged Cochran’s victory in a lawsuit filed in August, claiming Democratic voters illegally participated […]
The Mississippi Supreme Court has sided with Sen. Thad Cochran, ending a protracted legal battle over the results of the Republican primary runoff election. Chris McDaniel challenged Cochran’s victory in a lawsuit filed in August, claiming Democratic voters illegally participated in the Republican primary.
The court dismissed the suit because it was past the 20 day deadline imposed by common law to challenge an election result. Though the state election laws have changed since the case creating the deadline, the McDaniel campaign argued no such requirement was ever codified.
The state Supreme Court was not persuaded and concurred with the lower court’s dismissal.
Seal of the Judiciary of Mississippi by Connormah on Wikimedia Commons.
October 27, 2014 •
South Carolina Election Continues With(out) Harrell
No special election will be held to replace former House Speaker Bobby Harrell in House District 114. Harrell, who recently pleaded guilty to ethics violations, will remain on the November 4 ballot, but will not be eligible to win the […]
No special election will be held to replace former House Speaker Bobby Harrell in House District 114. Harrell, who recently pleaded guilty to ethics violations, will remain on the November 4 ballot, but will not be eligible to win the election.
The plea agreement requires Harrell to resign, not seek office for three years, and cooperate in other investigations. The race for House District 114 will be decided between Democrat Mary Tinkler and Green Party nominee Sue Edward.
October 24, 2014 •
DC Election for Attorney General to Be Held Nov. 4
Washington, D.C. voters will elect their attorney general for the first time on November 4, 2014. Up until this year, the attorney general has been appointed by the mayor. In 2010, voters approved a charter amendment authorizing the first election […]
Washington, D.C. voters will elect their attorney general for the first time on November 4, 2014. Up until this year, the attorney general has been appointed by the mayor.
In 2010, voters approved a charter amendment authorizing the first election of the city’s attorney general and setting a primary election for April 2014. In late 2013, the council passed a law delaying the election from 2014 to 2018, fearing the city lacked the necessary preparation.
Paul Zukerberg, a candidate for attorney general, challenged the 2013 law in court. In June 2014, the Court of Appeals ruled an election must be held in 2014 unless it would not be practically possible for the D.C. Board of Elections to do so.
Following a directive by the Court of Appeals to set a date for the election, the D.C. Superior Court decided the election will be held on November 4, 2014, the same day as the mayoral election.
October 15, 2014 •
Marion Superior Judge Selection Ruled Unconstitutional
A federal judge in Indianapolis ruled the statute delineating how Marion Superior judges are elected is unconstitutional. The election of Marion Superior judges is unique, as Republican and Democratic parties may nominate up to half of the open positions. Furthermore, […]
A federal judge in Indianapolis ruled the statute delineating how Marion Superior judges are elected is unconstitutional. The election of Marion Superior judges is unique, as Republican and Democratic parties may nominate up to half of the open positions.
Furthermore, once a judge wins in the primary, he or she will automatically be elected in the general because there are as many candidates as there are open seats. Because primaries are restricted to the two major parties, only those eligible to vote in the primary elections are able to cast meaningful votes for the open judgeships, and those who do not declare a party have no say in the election of the judges.
The court found the statute severely burdens the right to vote. The ruling is stayed and will not affect next month’s election.
August 14, 2014 •
Wisconsin Burke to Face Gov. Walker in November
Democrat Mary Burke will face Republican Gov. Scott Walker in the November general election. Burke, a former Trek Bicycle executive and state commerce secretary, is the first woman to be nominated by a major party for governor in Wisconsin. A […]
Democrat Mary Burke will face Republican Gov. Scott Walker in the November general election.
Burke, a former Trek Bicycle executive and state commerce secretary, is the first woman to be nominated by a major party for governor in Wisconsin.
A recent Marquette University Law School poll found women support Burke by a 48 to 41 percent margin, while men support Walker 52 to 42 percent.
August 13, 2014 •
Polls to Open Friday for Hawaii Precincts Affected by Iselle
A special election will be held on Friday, August 15, for residents of the rural Puna region. Two voting precincts in the region were closed during Saturday’s primary as Tropical Storm Iselle battered the Big Island. Roughly 8,000 registered voters […]
A special election will be held on Friday, August 15, for residents of the rural Puna region. Two voting precincts in the region were closed during Saturday’s primary as Tropical Storm Iselle battered the Big Island.
Roughly 8,000 registered voters who were unable to cast ballots will likely decide the outcome of the hotly contested Democratic primary for U.S. Senate. The race between U.S. Sen. Brian Schatz and U.S. Rep. Colleen Hanabusa remains too close to call.
August 8, 2014 •
Virginia Governor Sets Special Election to Replace Rep. Eric Cantor
Governor Terry McAuliffe declared a special election will take place on November 4, 2014 to fill the seat vacated by Representative Eric Cantor. Representative Cantor, who lost the Republican primary election on June 10, recently announced that he would resign […]
Governor Terry McAuliffe declared a special election will take place on November 4, 2014 to fill the seat vacated by Representative Eric Cantor.
Representative Cantor, who lost the Republican primary election on June 10, recently announced that he would resign from Congress effective August 18.
Cantor has been the representative from Virginia’s 7th District for the last seven terms.
Photo of Gov. Terry McAuliffe by Kate Wellington on Wikimedia Commons.
July 22, 2014 •
Special Election Announced for Texas State Senate District 28 Seat
Today Texas Gov. Perry announced a special election will be held September 9, 2014, for the State Senate District 28 seat. State Sen. Robert Duncan resigned on July 3, 2014, in order to serve as chancellor of the Texas Tech […]
Today Texas Gov. Perry announced a special election will be held September 9, 2014, for the State Senate District 28 seat.
State Sen. Robert Duncan resigned on July 3, 2014, in order to serve as chancellor of the Texas Tech University System. The winner of the election will serve out the unexpired term of Duncan, which expires in 2017.
Duncan has served in both the state House and the Senate since 1993.
June 5, 2014 •
California Has First Open Primary For Governor
Neel Kashkari is the Republican nominee for governor after placing second with 19 percent of the vote in the first primary election for governor held under California’s open primary rules. The top two finishers in the primaries move on to […]
Neel Kashkari is the Republican nominee for governor after placing second with 19 percent of the vote in the first primary election for governor held under California’s open primary rules. The top two finishers in the primaries move on to the general election, regardless of party affiliation.
Kashkari, a native of Stow, Ohio, ran the federal bailout of the U.S. banking system and finished second to Gov. Jerry Brown, who took nearly 55 percent of the returns. Brown, who currently enjoys high approval and campaign donations, is expected to be elected to a record fourth term in November.
June 4, 2014 •
Mississippi U.S. Senate Primary May Be Decided in Runoff
The U.S. Senate primary between incumbent Sen. Thad Cochran and tea party challenger Chris McDaniel remains too close to call after the June 3 election date. If neither candidate receives 50 percent of the vote, a runoff election will be […]
The U.S. Senate primary between incumbent Sen. Thad Cochran and tea party challenger Chris McDaniel remains too close to call after the June 3 election date.
If neither candidate receives 50 percent of the vote, a runoff election will be scheduled for June 24.
The race was considered one of the few remaining chances for a tea party victory after a string of primary challenges ended in defeat.
May 19, 2014 •
Trenton Runoff Election Scheduled for June 10
Without a single candidate securing a majority of votes in Tuesday’s election, Trenton voters must head to the polls for a second time to elect a mayor. A runoff election is scheduled for Tuesday, June 10. Eric Jackson, the former […]
Without a single candidate securing a majority of votes in Tuesday’s election, Trenton voters must head to the polls for a second time to elect a mayor. A runoff election is scheduled for Tuesday, June 10.
Eric Jackson, the former city public works director, is considered the favorite candidate. Coming into the race Jackson took the lead in campaign financing, while challenger Paul Perez focused his energy on running a positive campaign. There will also be a June 10 runoff for council candidates in the East Ward.
April 30, 2014 •
Special Mayoral Election Scheduled in Dover, DE
The Dover City Council has set June 17, 2014, as the date of a mayoral special election following the resignation of Mayor Carleton E. Carey, Sr. Dover’s city charter requires a special election be held no sooner than 30 days […]
The Dover City Council has set June 17, 2014, as the date of a mayoral special election following the resignation of Mayor Carleton E. Carey, Sr.
Dover’s city charter requires a special election be held no sooner than 30 days and no later than 60 days after the mayor’s office becomes vacant.
Vice Mayor David Bonar will serve as interim mayor until the new leader is chosen. The newly elected mayor will serve the remainder of Carey’s term, which expires on May 11, 2015.
January 17, 2014 •
Georgia Legislature Changes 2014 Election Dates
Lawmakers passed a new 2014 election schedule, moving this year’s primaries from July 15 to May 20. The change will comply with a federal court order requiring at least 45 days between primary and general elections and subsequent runoffs to […]
Lawmakers passed a new 2014 election schedule, moving this year’s primaries from July 15 to May 20. The change will comply with a federal court order requiring at least 45 days between primary and general elections and subsequent runoffs to give overseas military personnel time to cast absentee ballots for federal candidates.
Under the legislation, any runoffs arising from the primaries will be held on July 22. The general election remains on Nov. 4. Any necessary state or local runoffs will be held on Dec. 2, while any runoffs to fill federal offices would take place Jan. 6, 2015.
The bill now goes to Gov. Nathan Deal for his signature.
November 18, 2013 •
Georgia Governor Schedules Special Elections
Gov. Nathan Deal has issued writs of election to fill vacancies in House Districts 2 and 22. The special elections will be held on January 7, 2014, without party primaries. Runoff elections, if needed, will be held on Tuesday, February […]
Gov. Nathan Deal has issued writs of election to fill vacancies in House Districts 2 and 22.
The special elections will be held on January 7, 2014, without party primaries.
Runoff elections, if needed, will be held on Tuesday, February 4, 2014.
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