On Monday, November 3, the EndPartisanship.org coalition filed an appellant brief with the U.S. Third Circuit Court of Appeals in New Jersey, maintaining the argument that the current primary system in the state grants the Republican and Democratic parties a monopoly over the election process while denying 47 percent of the electorate equal and meaningful access to the voting process:

During every midterm and presidential election year, traditional media outlets pull out their electoral maps that paint every congressional district in a deep shade of red or blue, depending on who is currently the incumbent and who is expected to win in that election. Most of the time, if a district is a toss-up, it will not be colored in at all.

While traditional models for electoral maps do not accurately represent changes in voter preferences, there is one map that shows the tragic reality of politics in the United States:

New Jersey is a decidedly purple state at the moment. Nearly half of the registered voting population is not affiliated with either major party. Voters have elected a Republican governor, two Democratic senators, and mostly supported Obama in 2008 and 2012. Currently, six Democrats and six Republicans represent New Jersey in the U.S. House.

With Election Day just one day away, Colorado’s gubernatorial race is in a dead heat between incumbent John Hickenlooper (D) and Republican challenger Bob Beauprez. A recent poll conducted by PPD found 45 percent of likely voters support Hickenlooper while 44 percent support Beauprez.

When the House switched to Republican control in the 2010 midterms, it was treated as a referendum on President Barack Obama’s health care law. Two years later, the GOP set its sights on the White House. However, Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney was not able to beat Obama. Now, the Senate is the prize in next week’s elections.

Politicos continue to speculate on which party independent U.S. Senate candidate Greg Orman will caucus with if he wins on Election Day in Kansas. Orman has already said he would be willing to caucus with the majority party, which would help him obtain influential committee positions and put him close to the leadership, but what if neither party has a clear advantage after all the election results are in?

Election Day 2014 is less than a week away and the season's last Field Poll for California statewide races shows Democrats leading most of the races.

Gary Miller (R), is up for grabs. Miller, who has been in Congress since 1999, announced his retirement earlier this year. The two candidates who emerged from June's nonpartisan, top-two primary are Redlands Mayor Pete Aguilar (D) and former Navy Lt. Commander Paul Chabot (R).

Each year as we approach the end (or beginning) of Daylight Saving Time (DST -- Daylight Saving in the United States is the correct term, not Daylight Savings as it is usually mistakenly called), there seems to be a political debate as to the usefulness of such a scheme. Some encourage year-round DST, while others advocate totally departing from the system.

Looking to the wisdom and humor of Benjamin Franklin gives us a unique insight to his thoughts on saving daylight.

Editor's note: The initial published draft of this article said the California School Employees Association endorsed Tony Thurmund, but the organization actually issued a dual endorsement for both candidates.