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Tuesday, July 31, 2007
Part presidential primary, part lottery: This bipartisan plan assumes choosing a world leader should be a logical process
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
The Hill, the newspaper that covers the doings of the U.S. Capitol, has a first look at a plan by U.S. Sens. Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) and Joe Lieberman (I-Conn.) to create a new presidential primary structure that would divide the country into four regions.
Each region would vote in a different month.
Says the Hill:
The Regional Presidential Primary and Caucus Act, which would take effect in the 2012 elections, is a result of this year’s rush by states to the front of the line, with big states like California, New York and New Jersey moving to Feb. 5 and Florida jumping to Jan. 29.
The proposal calls for a rotating schedule of the four regions, while still protecting the “traditional” first states of Iowa and New Hampshire.
The states would be divided into the East (Region I), South (II), Midwest (III) and West (IV) regions.
A lottery would be held to determine which region votes first on the first Tuesday or within six days of the first Tuesday in March. The other regions would follow in numerical order in April, May and June. Whichever region goes first in 2012 would go to the back of the line in 2016.
Says Handel: Bring your photo ID to September special elections
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Secretary of State Karen Handel announced this morning that the state’s photo identification requirement, subject of much state and federal court action, will be effective for in-person voting, beginning with special elections of Sept. 18.
Handel said she based her decision on a June 11 ruling by the state Supreme Court, dismissing a challenge to the law because of the plaintiff’s lack of standing.
So far as we know, the federal challenge is still pending. Look for foes of the measure, who say it discriminates against minorities and the elderly, to try and stop the secretary of state.
We’ll link you to a full story ASAP.
