On July 22, U.S. District Court Judge Lawrence Kahn extended the petitioning period, in Ulster County, for candidates and activists who want a September primary ballot prepared for the Independence Party in Ulster County. New York doesn’t normally print up a primary ballot for a party unless there are at least two candidates running against each other for a particular office. However, it will be print a primary ballot, even if there are no candidates on that ballot, if a petition requesting such a ballot is submitted. That makes it possible for write-in candidates to be elected or nominated. The petition to require a primary ballot to be printed was due July 17, but the court order extends the time for this petition to July 31. Proponents desire write-in space on the Independence Party primary for U.S. House, both branches of the state legislature, partisan county office, and party office. If their petition succeeds, any write-in candidate who outpolls his or her opponents wins, no matter how few write-ins are obtained. The ruling is part of Loeber v Spargo, no. 04-1193. The case has many other issues relating to malapportioned districts, and is quite old. Thanks to Bill Van Allen for this news.