On March 26, the Georgia Libertarian and Green Parties filed a federal lawsuit to cut the number of signatures due to the health crisis. The Libertarian Party is already on the ballot for statewide office, but not district office, so the Libertarian Party is in this case because it seeks to qualify a U.S. House candidate, Martin Cowen. The Green Party needs to get 7,500 signatures for president and over 20,000 for its U.S. House candidate. Cooper v Raffensperger, n.d. Here is the Complaint.

UPDATE: the case is 1:20cv-1312 and is assigned to U.S. District Court judge Eleanor L. Ross, an Obama appointee.

The Federal Election Commission has again updated its very useful chart on primary dates and filing deadlines, for federal candidates. See it here. Thanks to Thomas Jones for the link. The changes are as of March 24.

On March 25, the Constitution Party National Committee approved a plan for a presidential convention that will be by videoconference. It will be May 1-2. Delegates must be registered by April 15. Presidential candidates may be nominated on the motion of two state delegations. Delegates can send debate questions in advance for the presidential debate. Each state delegation will caucus after the speeches and other presentations. Each state can decide for itself whether to have a physical meeting or a remote meeting. Chairs of each state’s delegation will announce their state’s vote, but each delegate will also separately e-mail his or her vote to the national secretary, as a back-up.

The fee to be a delegate has been reduced, so ironically that, along with the elimination of travel costs, may increase the number of delegates.

The party had amended its bylaws in 2008 to provide for this type of convention in case of a national emergency, so no bylaw change was needed.

The details should be on the party’s national website in a few days.