Depending on how the state legislative elections results shake out in New York come November we could be looking at much improved odds for passing a Clean Elections bill there in the coming year. New York Governor David Paterson (D) is certainly a supporter of Clean Elections, if not the most outspoken on the subject, and state activists are keeping up the drumbeat for movement on legislation -- see this letter to the editor in Binghamton.

I'm sorry to report that Alaska's Clean Elections ballot initiative did not pass yesterday -- in fact, on the primary ballot where both Sen. Ted Stevens (R) and Rep. Don Young (R) faced primary challenges none of the ballot initiatives got much love. But as they say, Rome wasn't built in a day. This is only the beginning of Alaska's fight for Clean Elections.

Remember Alaskans that tomorrow is the day to vote on Ballot Measure 3 that would bring Clean Elections to your state.  The last flurry of supportive letters and op-eds have hit the papers and tomorrow, Tuesday the 26th, is the moment of truth.  Will candidates for state office in Alaska have the chance to nix big donors and run for office with full public financing?  Only if you get out and vote!

The Center for Governmental Studies has released a study of New Jersey's Clean Elections pilot program and it is overwhelmingly positive. While offering a few recommendations for improvement (chief among them expanding the system to primaries and making a better effort on behalf of third parties) the Center thinks the system should be expanded and "could be a state-wide success."

As voting day on the Clean Elections ballot initiative in Alaska draws closer, supporters are getting in their last letters of support to rally Alaskans to vote for full public financing of elections and put the sordid corruption scandals that have plagued the state in the past.  Here's a letter from Jim Cobis in the Kodiak Daily Mirror.

Word on the street is that Clean Elections legislation could be up for a vote today in the California Senate. The bill, which would create a pilot Clean Elections public financing program for candidates for Secretary of State, has already passed the state Assembly.