On October 7, the U.S. Supreme Court refused to hear Hall v Merrill, 18-1362. This is the case that challenged Alabama’s petition requirement for independent candidates in special U.S. House elections.

The Supreme Court thus carries on its habit of denying all ballot access cases filed by minor parties or independent candidates. The Court hasn’t taken such a case since 1991. Although it took Burdick v Takushi in early 1992, that was a case filed by a Democratic voter who lived in a Hawaii legislative district with no Democrat on the ballot, and the plaintiff-voter wanted to write-in a Democrat.