Editorials: Steve Sebelius: Only drama in Nevada special election comes from court | ReviewJournal.com

This weekend's Republican Central Committee meeting in Sparks had all the excitement of watching your favorite movie for the 113th time: Sure it's fun, but you know exactly how it ends.

The selection of former state Sen. Mark Amodei as the nominee for the special election in the 2nd Congressional District was assured the moment Lt. Gov. Brian Krolicki, Amodei's only real competitor, announced he would not seek the office.

The only question was by how much Amodei -- who stepped down recently as chairman of the state party -- would beat two other contenders, appointed state Sen. Greg Brower and former USS Cole skipper Kirk Lippold. As Amodei himself said, if he'd failed to win the nomination (or if he'd won it by a less-than-impressive margin) it would have sent a very strong message. But Amodei did win, and convincingly (221 votes to just 56 for Brower, his closest competitor).

Nevada: Secretary Of State Will Evaluate Mail-In Ballots For Special Election | Nevada News Bureau

Secretary of State Ross Miller is asking for information from county clerks and registrars about the possibility of using mail-in ballots for the upcoming special election to fill the vacant Congressional District 2 seat.

“One of our biggest concerns with the special election is trying to reduce the cost to taxpayers,” he said today. “And under new legislation, any county clerk or registrar can convert any precinct into a mail ballot-only precinct with the permission of our office.

“We’ve received several requests from some county clerks who want to at least explore that option and so we simply asked them to prepare some analysis and identify potential issues,” Miller said.

Nevada: Miller asks about vote-by-mail for special election | Reno Gazette-Journal

Democratic Secretary of State Ross Miller is considering having Nevadans vote by mail only for the upcoming special election for the open seat in Nevada's 2nd U.S. House District as a way to save money.

Miller sent letters to Nevada's 17 county registrars Thursday, asking them for costs estimates on running a mail-ballot only election instead of a polling-place format.

Dan Burk, the Washoe County registrar, said he likes the idea. "It would be cheaper for us to do it this way and certainly it would be easier for us to administer," Burk said.

New York: Filling Weiner’s Vacant Seat: How a Special Election Could Work | WNYC

New York: home to the special elections brought about by sexually suggestive online photos and supreme bad judgment.

For the second time in six months, New York party officials will be scrambling scramble to settle on candidates for a special election.

With Anthony Weiner set to resign his seat, the timing of an election to replace him is up to Governor Andrew Cuomo. It is his job to officially call for a special election, and when and whether he does that is his prerogative.

Wisconsin: Recall in 10th Senate District will push election budgets into red | WQOW TV

Protests that happened months ago sparked recall efforts, which have some counties going back over their books.

Special elections can be costly and now we could have two in the 10th Senate District.  Republican Senator Sheila Harsdorf holds that seat and since another republican decided to run as a democrat out of protest, we could see a primary before the recall election itself.

No clerk could have guessed how 2011 was going to shape up when it comes to politics. "This year was scheduled to be a two election cycle, so I budgeted about $30,700," says Carole Wondra, Polk County Clerk.

Nevada: Special election court hearing set in Nevada | ReviewJournal.com

The Nevada Supreme Court on June 28 will hear oral arguments on whether the special election to fill Dean Heller's seat in Congress will be a free-for-all or be limited to candidates chosen by party central committees.

The court announced Wednesday that it has scheduled an hourlong hearing in the case of the Nevada Republican Party versus the Nevada Democratic Party. Each side will have 30 minutes to make its case. Thirty people already have signed up for the tentative Sept. 13 election for the 2nd Congressional District.

Nevada: Supreme Court to hear argument on special election law before ballot deadline | The Republic

The Nevada Supreme Court is preparing to review a lawsuit challenging a special election law before the July 6 deadline to get the candidates on the ballot. The court said Wednesday the full bench will hear from the state and the major political parties on June 28 in Carson City.

The court has been asked to decide whether the state's first election to fill a vacant House seat will be open to all major party candidates or just candidates chosen by party leaders.

Nevada: GOP urges state Nevada Supreme Court to not change date of congressional special election | AP/The Republic

Delaying the date of a special election to fill a House vacancy could further taint a political process already clouded in confusion, lawyers for the Nevada Republican Party argued Monday in a court brief.

The GOP said it does not oppose rescheduling the Sept. 13 election so that the Nevada Supreme Court has more time to decide the rules of Nevada's first special election to fill a House seat. State law, however, does not seem to allow for a date change, the lawyers claim.

Nevada: Attorney General, Democrats argue special election should be wide-open affair | Las Vegas Sun

The secretary of state, as the resident expert on Nevada elections, should have the final word on the format for the race to fill the 2nd Congressional District seat, the attorney general and state Democratic Party argued in briefs filed with the Nevada Supreme Court.

The parties are asking the court to overturn a decision by District Judge Todd Russell in Carson City, who held that the central committees of the two major parties should nominate candidates for the Sept. 13 election. The secretary of state had opted for a wide-open special election.

The Supreme Court has requested the Sept. 13 election be delayed to give it more time to consider the issue.

Nevada: Court Suggests Delay For Nevada House Election | Eyewitness News 9

Nevada's first special election to fill a House seat could be delayed because of a legal tussle over the contest rules.

The Nevada Supreme Court issued an order Tuesday directing the Nevada Democratic Party, the Nevada Republican Party and Secretary of State Ross Miller to address whether the September special election can be rescheduled. The political parties and Miller disagree on the rules of the contest to fill the seat left vacant when Republican Dean Heller was appointed to the U.S. Senate.

Nevada: Nevada Supreme Court to hear appeal on special election | ReviewJournal.com

The Nevada Supreme Court indicated Tuesday that it needs more time to rule on a key election procedure than a planned Sept. 13 election date would allow.

As a result, Nevadans in the district -- which encompasses all of Nevada with the exception of urbanized areas of Clark County -- might not get to vote on Heller's replacement until October or even November. The replacement would fill out the last year of Heller's unexpired term, thereby getting a leg up on the competition in the 2012 election.

Editorials: Jon Ralston: If only Heller had done his job as secretary of state, we wouldn’t have mess to replace him as U.S. representative | Reno Gazette-Journal

If only Secretary of State Dean Heller had written regulations for a House special election, we wouldn't have such controversy over filling U.S. Sen. Dean Heller's seat.

But the Republican did not, as a 2003 law instructed, write any rules, so now we have chaos, thanks to a Carson City judge's stunning decision last week that overturned the guidelines proposed by Heller's Democratic successor, Ross Miller. And reading through the 97-page transcript of Judge Todd Russell's decision reveals a jurist who seemed immediately predisposed to the GOP argument that party central committees should nominate and hostile to the Democratic Party claim that it should be, as Miller calls it, a "ballot royale."

New York: Candidate files for preemptive order to enjoin certification in NY-26 | Electionline Weekly

Even before a single ballot was cast on election day in the special election in New York‘s 26thCongressional District, Republican Candidate Jane L. Corwin filed a request for a court order to prevent the election from being certified citing the closeness of the race in pre-voting polling.

On election day Supreme Court Justice Russell P. Buscaglia issued an 11-page order preventing the elections boards in Erie, Niagara, Genesee, Orleans, Wyoming, Livingston and Monroe counties from certifying the election until Buscaglia could hold a show-cause hearing on Thursday. Within the order, attorneys for Corwin had until Wednesday to serve copies of the court order to the affected county boards of elections, their sheriff‘s offices, the state board of elections and the other three candidates in the race.

New York: Corwin Camp Cancels Vote Count Hearing | wgrz.com

A court hearing to challenge the results of the election results in the 26th District Congressional race has been cancelled.

The lawyer for the Jane Corwin campaign camp made a move to impound paper ballots, but the Republican candidate has since conceded victory to Democrat Kathy Hochul.

Editorials: Jane Ann Morrison: Anyone could have written better rules for special elections in Nevada | ReviewJournal.com

Wonder which legislator did such a pitifully poor job writing a bill to spell out how a new House member should be chosen in Nevada in case of a midterm vacancy? Look no further than former Assembly Speaker Richard Perkins, D-Las Vegas.

In 2003, he sponsored Assembly Bill 344. But Perkins, now a lobbyist, thought so little of the bill that is now causing us so much of a ruckus that he handed the duties of carrying the bill to his intern.

Nevada: Appeal notices filed over Nevada special election ruling | San Antonio Express-News

The filling period is about to begin for major political party candidates interested in running in Nevada’s special election for the 2nd Congressional District seat. But filing doesn’t guarantee a spot on the Sept. 13 ballot, because that decision remains with the Nevada Supreme Court. Secretary of State Ross Miller said declarations of candidacy will be accepted beginning Wednesday through June 30.

Miller and the Democratic Party filed notices Tuesday with the Nevada Supreme Court challenging a lower court that ruled the Republican and Democratic central committees should choose their party nominee. The Supreme Court has agreed to expedite the case.

Nevada: Contradictory ruling in Nevada | Las Vegas Sun

Republican Rep. Dean Heller’s appointment to the U.S. Senate this month created a novel situation — Nevada has never had to replace a member of the House of Representatives in the middle of a term. As a result, a controversy quickly developed over how to replace Heller because Nevada law doesn’t specifically state how a special election for the House should be conducted.

Because there is no primary in a special election, the state Republican Party wants to pick its nominee. But the law doesn’t provide for the parties to pick their candidates for a special election.

Editorials: Jon Ralston: That’s a fine mess you’ve left, Secretary Heller | Las Vegas Sun

If only Secretary of State Dean Heller had written regulations for a House special election, we wouldn’t have such controversy over filling Sen. Dean Heller’s seat.

But Heller did not, as a 2003 law instructed, write any rules, so now we have chaos, thanks to a Carson City judge’s stunning decision last week that overturned the guidelines proposed by Heller’s successor, Ross Miller. And reading through the 97-page transcript of Judge Todd Russell’s decision reveals a jurist who seemed immediately predisposed to the GOP argument that party central committees should nominate and hostile to the Democratic Party claim that it should be, as Miller calls it, a “ballot royale.”

Followed up by a contradictory order Russell telegraphed from the beginning where he was going, later trying to tamp down any speculation while having a colloquy with Deputy Attorney General Kevin Benson by urging him not to conclude “anything by my questions.”

Nevada: Democrats have bill to change Nevada elections, create odd-year general – might affect special House election, tax plan | Las Vegas Sun

Democrats quietly have prepared an omnibus election bill that would move certain races to odd-numbered years, allow them to put their tax plan on the ballot in 2011 and, perhaps, move the September House special election to November, several well-placed sources confirm.

The bill draft was being passed around late last week and Monday, with election experts reviewing it.

Nevada: Attorney General’s office to appeal Nevada special election ruling | ReviewJournal.com

Update: Appeal Filed In Special Election – My News 4 – KRNV, Reno, NV

The Republican Party would suffer irreparable harm if an unlimited number of candidates were allowed to run for the 2nd Congressional District seat left vacant by Dean Heller’s move to the Senate. So stated Carson City District Judge [James] Todd Russell in a written ruling released Monday. He announced his decision Friday.

Russell was critical of Secretary of State Ross Miller’s attorneys who argued for a “free-for-all” special election, saying reliance upon a single sentence contained in an entire law “produces an unreasonable and absurd result.”

Nevada: Judge calls Nevada Secretary of State’s legal reasoning for special election rules “absurd” | The Republic

The legal reasoning used by the state’s top election official to determine how candidates will be chosen for a special election to fill Nevada’s vacant U.S. House seat was “unreasonable and absurd,” a state judge said Monday.

The 12-page written order released by Carson District Judge James [Todd] Russell codifies his verbal bench ruling last week and sets the stage for an appeal to the Nevada Supreme Court.

Secretary of State Ross Miller said the Sept. 13 special election would be an open contest, with the 2nd Congressional District seat going to the candidate who gets the most votes.

Nevada: Supreme Court will expedite appeal of ruling on Nevada special election | ReviewJournal.com

The Nevada Supreme Court will quickly hear Secretary of State Ross Miller’s planned appeal of a judge’s decision to let political parties pick U.S. House nominees for a Sept. 13 special election, a court spokesman said Friday.

As expected, Miller on Friday asked the attorney general to file the appeal. He also postponed the candidate filing period, which had been scheduled for Monday through Wednesday in Carson City.

Editorials: Steve Sebelius: A bad ruling on Nevada special House election | ReviewJournal.com

Simply put, Carson City District Judge James Todd Russell is flat wrong about the special election for the 2nd Congressional District. Which is why it’s a good thing that Secretary of State Ross Miller announced late Friday he would appeal this wrongheaded ruling to the state Supreme Court.

In the meantime, candidate filings schedule for next week will be postponed while the appeal is prepared.

Some background: After Rep. Dean Heller was appointed to John Ensign’s Senate seat, a special election was called to replace Heller in the House of Representatives. Miller issued regulations for that special election — a first in Nevada history — based on a 2003 statute that appears to allow a wide-open, anybody-can-run, no-primary, winner-takes-all election. The Nevada Republican Party sued, claiming political parties should nominate candidates for the special election.

Nevada: Judge overturns decision on open special election – News – ReviewJournal.com

It looks as if the Sept. 13 special election to replace former GOP Rep. Dean Heller won’t be the flash mob of candidates that Republicans had feared.

In a decision that stunned the Democratic Party and buoyed the GOP, a district judge Thursday overruled Secretary of State Ross Miller’s May 5 decision to allow any qualified major party candidate to run in a free-for-all U.S. House race.

Instead, Judge James Todd Russell enjoined the secretary of state from moving ahead. And he gave the political parties until June 30 to nominate just one candidate each, the ruling the Republican Party sought in a lawsuit filed against Miller.

Louisiana: The cost of democracy – special elections in Louisiana | Baton Rouge Business Report

With state senators abandoning ship for statewide posts and new public jobs, and state representatives stepping up to become senators, and parish councilmen and mayors pushing to fill those vacancies, there has been a long string of special elections in recent months.

Over the course of the current term of the Louisiana Legislature, taxpayers have footed the bill for more than $1 million worth of special elections—basically, 32 unexpected contests—according to the Legislative Auditor’s Office, the most in the nation during that time frame.

North Carolina: Special Elections and Military Voting Bills passed in North Carolina House | Sun Journal

Bills requiring local special elections to be held on general election days and bringing military voting guidelines in line with national standards passed the House Monday night.

The special election date bill, sponsored by Harry Warren, requires special elections – such as bond referendums – to be held when voters would also be going to the polls on general election dates. The military absentee bill, sponsored by Rep. Grier Martin, D-Wake, would align North Carolina’s law with national standards. It would set standards for electronic transmission of ballots.

Louisiana: Louisiana explores special election process in effort to cut costs | DailyComet.com

Lawmakers are zeroing in on ways to cut the cost to taxpayers for holding elections. Recent months have seen a long string of special elections, even locally.

With term limits taking effect, state senators are abandoning ship for statewide posts and new public jobs. Representatives are stepping up to become senators, and their vacancies are prompting promotions for parish councilmen and mayors across Louisiana.