1976) (state representative); Draper v. Phelps, 351 F. Supp. 677, 686 (W.D.Okla. 1972) (state representative); Blount v. Board of Supervisors of Elections, 247 Md. 342, 350, 230 A.2d 639, 643 (1967) (state constitutional convention delegate); Hendrix v. State ex rel. Oklahoma State Election Board, 554 P.2d 770, 772 (Okla. 1976) (state representative). There are primarily three reasons why courts have upheld state constitutional and statutory durational residency requirements for state offices.
That is far shorter than the seven-year state residency requirement for state senators upheld by the United States Supreme Court in Sununu, supra, 420 U.S. 958. Numerous courts have since upheld such short requirements. See e.g., Akron, supra, 660 F.2d at 167-69 (upholding one-year ward residency requirement); Brewster, supra, 541 S.W.2d at 307, 310; Cox v. Barber, 568 S.E.2d 478, 481-82 & n.14 (Ga. 2002) (upholding one-year district residency requirement, despite Robertson); Blount v. Board of Supervisors, 230 A.2d 639 (Md. Ct. App. 1967) (upholding one-year district residency requirement). The original drafters of this requirement in the New Jersey Constitution obviously felt that one year was the minimum period for the candidates for either house to get to know the voters of the district, and for the voters of the district to get to know the candidate.
Numerous courts have since upheld such short requirements. See e.g., Akron, supra, 660 F.2d at 167–69 (upholding one-year ward residency requirement); Brewster, supra, 541 S.W.2d at 307, 310;Cox v. Barber, 275 Ga. 415, 568 S.E.2d 478, 481–82 & n. 14 (2002) (upholding one-year district residency requirement, despite Robertson); Blount v. Board of Supervisors, 247 Md. 342, 230 A.2d 639 (1967) (upholding one-year district residency requirement). The original drafters of this requirement in the New Jersey Constitution obviously felt that one year was the minimum period for the candidates for either house to get to know the voters of the district, and for the voters of the district to get to know the candidate.