In November 2022, Maryland voters will see six candidates for Governor on their ballots, the most since 1938. The 2022 election includes the nominees of all five qualified parties: Democratic, Republican, Libertarian, Green, and Working Class. Also there is an independent candidate on the ballot, Kyle Sefcik. He needed 10,000 valid signatures by the August 1 deadline.

In 1938 there were seven candidates on the ballot for Governor of Maryland. Ballot access was made more difficult in Maryland in 1941, and made more difficult again in 1957, and then made really difficult in 1967. But it was eased in 1998 by lobbying, and then eased some more in 2003 with a winning lawsuit in state court.

This Axios story explains the various lawsuits challenging voting procedures in Georgia, including the case that challenges the statewide Public Service Commissioner elections. The plaintiffs argue that the Voting Rights Act requires Georgia to elect this office in district elections, not statewide elections.

The Axios story does not mention the Libertarian Party ballot access lawsuit, which is in the U.S. Supreme Court, although the Court won’t decide whether to hear it or not until late September or even later. On August 4, the Georgia Secretary of State informed the U.S. Supreme Court that the state doesn’t plan to respond, unless of course the Court asks for a response.

On August 2, a Connecticut Superior Court denied injunctive relief against the law that requires a candidate running in a primary for U.S. House to collect the signatures of 2% of that party’s registered members in 42 days. Most primary candidates in Connecticut never need to collect signatures, because they can also get on a primary ballot if they show significant support at a party meeting.

The plaintiff, Muad Hrezi, hoped to be on the 2022 Democratic primary ballot for U.S. House in District One. Hrezi v Merrill, Hartford, HHD-cv22-6156703-S. Here is the decision, which is noteworthy for doing a good job of listing precedents that struck down ballot access laws. Often when a judge upholds a law, the opinion neglects to mention the precedents on the other side.

In Connecticut, only parties that polled 20% of the last gubernatorial vote nominate by primary. Smaller ballot-qualified parties nominate by convention.

The plaintiff needed 3,833 valid signatures of Democrats.