OLYMPIA – Legislators have a wide array of changes they think would make the state’s elections run smoother.

At hearings Tuesday, they suggested paying for the postage for voters to return their mail-in ballots, requiring most ballots be in the hands of county elections officials by 8 p.m. election night may be the prime beneficiaries of the state’s current election laws, requiring counties to have more drop-boxes and publishing a voter guide for primary elections. . . 

To read the rest of this item, or to comment, go inside the blog.

This is an interesting depiction of the presidential vote for Democrats and Republicans over the last 90 years compiled by David Sparks of Duke University.

Anyone want to suggest a sound track to go along with it?

One sure sign that fall is easing into winter is that political types are complaining about how long it takes to count ballots in Washington state.

This rant usually starts about three days after an election, when the results of most races have been known for two days but a few close contests hang in the balance. This year, the main target of the whining is a state Supreme Court race, which on Friday was still somewhat in doubt.

If only Washington could be sensible like Oregon, the argument goes, and require mailed ballots to be at elections offices by Election Day, as opposed to simply post-marked by Election Day.

Since when did Oregon become such a paragon of electoral virtue? But it wouldn’t really help to make that switch, at least not without more money…Read why inside the blog.

The results of a study by the National Institute on Money in State Politics concludes that third party candidates face long odds at getting elected.

Which may rival “it rains in Seattle” for the least surprising conclusion of the week. But at least the institute puts some  numbers behind what most people inherently know. They could toss a bit of cold water on anyone planning to run outside the two major parties, even in a year in which many people say the two party system isn’t working very well (or at all).

The Helena, Mont., based institute  studied nearly 6,200 third-party candidates over the last nine years, and found just 2 percent won.

Those who ran as independents or members of the Progressive Party, did the best among that tiny universe. Between 2001 and 2009, a total of 1,136 candidates ran as independents, and 36 won. That’s more than any other third party, the study said…although it should be noted that “independent” isn’t a third party, it’s the absence of a party. The Progressive Party had 85 candidates and won 25 seats, although 24 were in Vermont where the Progressives actually qualify as a major party.

Those running as Libertarian or Green Party candidates — the parties that are arguably the most organized, visible and vocal of the nation’s other organized political organizations — were among the least successful. The Libertarians have an awful win ratio: 2,382 candidates filed, 1 winner. The Green Party’s ratios and wins were better, but hardly something that would inspire confidence: 653 candidates, 4 wins.

The institute studied five states closeup, but Washington and Idaho weren’t among them. Too bad, because Washington has a long tradition of third party attempts, with candidates claiming allegiance to the American Heritage, Reform, Independent, Constitution, Natural Law, Green, Socialist Workers, Libertarian, Commons, America’s Third, Progressive Democrat, True Democrat and Salmon Yoga parties making appearances on partisan ballots.

And none of them won.

Idaho has a smaller crop of third party types, mainly Libertarian and Constitution parties in recent years. Although some would argue that in much of Idaho, being a Democrat is like being a member of a third party.

Clock is ticking down to the deadline to file for political office.

5 p.m. is it. Finito. end of story.

In the meantime, the race for Spokane City Council’s District 2 in south Spokane grew to four Friday afternoon with the entry of Kristina Sabestinas, an aide to U.S. Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers. She joins former councilman Steve Eugster, magazine publisher Jon Snyder, incumbent Mike Allen for that seat.

Northeast Spokane’s District 1 still has two candidates, Amber Waldref and Mike Fagan.

Northwest Spokane’s District 3 has still six: John Waite, Nancy McLaughlin, Karen Kearney, Barbara Lampert, Victor Noder and Christopher Stevens.

In the Spokane Valley, only one council race had two candidates as of lunchtime: the Position 1 seat with incumbent Diana Wilhite and challenger Brenad Grassel.

For the full list for races totally or partially in Spokane County , go inside the blog.