[Political Junkie Too]

The equal protection is that the election is for a seat at a national office, the Senate, which affects everyone. If New Jersey can change the rules to influence the outcome, then that's not fair to the voters in Minnisota who can't do the same. It also has to do with the fact that Republicans in California, hoping for a change in majority in the Senate can't get it because New Jersey played loose with the rules.

The states can set their own deadlines, but all states operate under the assumption that each state won't mess with the rules once their legislatures write them. That is the equal protection.

-PJ

[mlo]

The equal protection is that the election is for a seat at a national office, the Senate, which affects everyone. If New Jersey can change the rules to influence the outcome, then that's not fair to the voters in Minnisota who can't do the same.

Nope. The seat is for a New Jersey Senator and is only up to New Jersey voters. They are the only voters to be considered. An equal protection claim would have to argue that some portion of New Jersey voters is being treated differently than the other New Jersey voters.