The Voting News Weekly: The Voting News Weekly for January 4-10 2016

The Guardian profiled Edward Blum, the former stockbroker who over the past two decades has orchestrated lawsuits to challenge and, in some instances, dramatically reverse legal principles on voting rights, the drawing of electoral districts, and, in a case currently pending before the Supreme Court, the entire basis of electoral representation. That case, Evenwell v. Abbott is discussed in a New York Times editorial by Emily Bazelon and Jim Rutenberg. The Atlantic investigated the impact of California’s “top-two” primary that allows the two leading finishers in a primary to proceed to the general election regardless of party affiliation. The Michigan Senate in December broke a pair of bills apart to avoid passing no-reason absentee voting, but now they’re facing calls to pass that bill from Gov. Rick Snyder and Secretary of State Ruth Johnson. A U.S. District Court judge signed an order modifying the deadlines for discovery in the case so a trial on North Carolina’s photo ID requirement can begin Jan. 25. A federal court has picked a new congressional map for Virginia that significantly changes the racial makeup of two districts, but could be overturned by the U.S. Supreme Court. Haiti President Michel Martelly issued a presidential order officially scheduling the country’s postponed presidential and partial legislative runoffs for Jan. 24 and the decision of Catalan far-left party CUP not to support acting regional head Artur Mas in his bid for another term, forces new local elections and increases the likelihood of a new elections in Spain later this year.