The charges themselves have not been dropped, Cecil added, but if the state wanted to reopen the case, the magistrate made clear it would have to start again from the beginning.

CNN: STORY HIGHLIGHTS

In practice, however, since the entire process of approving a ballot measure and creating a list must start again from the beginning, the earliest voters could again have a say is 2016.

ECONOMIST: Transport and taxation

We need to start once again respecting the Social Security Trust Fund and beginning to bring our troops home from Iraq so that we will have those resources to spend here at home.

CNN: Clinton's October 9, 2007 speech on retirement security