It's Ballot Initiative Time in California
Sort of. It's not that far until June 5th, and my mail-in ballot is beckoning to be filled in and mailed out.
But there's only two ballot initiatives on the ballot, so what fun is that? (Fortunately, we can look forward to many, many more being on the ballot in November, including this one.)
I will ponder the two intiatiatives soon, but for the nonce we have the interesting tidbit that there are twenty-four people running for US Senator... while exactly one of them (Feinstein) has a chance of being elected in November, except that...
I realized I had no idea what happens if Feinstein dies between June 5th and the November election (she will be 79 in June). I still don't. The Constitutional amendment that put top-two voting in place in California doesn't address the issue. Google is not being helpful. The Governor could name a replacement for the remainder of her term, but does she remain on the ballot, does the second place person win by default, or is the third place person elevated to becoming a candidate? I don't see how it would be possible under the top-two law for the Democratic Party to name a replacement candidate. If she does remain on the ballot and wins, then presumably Brown could again appoint someone until a special election were held.
This seems important because, since Feinstein is going to win the primary, if the 2nd place finisher wins automatically if she dies, then you want to vote not for Feinstein if you were going to in the first place but for the best qualified other candidate in your opinion.
This came up because someone, perhaps in jest, suggested voting for Orly Taitz (yes, she is running) to add some amusement to the November race. But if there is even the remotest chance that Taitz could become Senator-by-default, then you wouldn't want to do this.
But there's only two ballot initiatives on the ballot, so what fun is that? (Fortunately, we can look forward to many, many more being on the ballot in November, including this one.)
I will ponder the two intiatiatives soon, but for the nonce we have the interesting tidbit that there are twenty-four people running for US Senator... while exactly one of them (Feinstein) has a chance of being elected in November, except that...
I realized I had no idea what happens if Feinstein dies between June 5th and the November election (she will be 79 in June). I still don't. The Constitutional amendment that put top-two voting in place in California doesn't address the issue. Google is not being helpful. The Governor could name a replacement for the remainder of her term, but does she remain on the ballot, does the second place person win by default, or is the third place person elevated to becoming a candidate? I don't see how it would be possible under the top-two law for the Democratic Party to name a replacement candidate. If she does remain on the ballot and wins, then presumably Brown could again appoint someone until a special election were held.
This seems important because, since Feinstein is going to win the primary, if the 2nd place finisher wins automatically if she dies, then you want to vote not for Feinstein if you were going to in the first place but for the best qualified other candidate in your opinion.
This came up because someone, perhaps in jest, suggested voting for Orly Taitz (yes, she is running) to add some amusement to the November race. But if there is even the remotest chance that Taitz could become Senator-by-default, then you wouldn't want to do this.