On September 11, the Alabama Secretary of State filed his answer in U.S. District Court in Libertarian Party of Alabama v Merrill, m.d., 2:19cv-69. This is the case in which the Libertarian Party challenges the state law that says the qualified parties get a free list of the registered voters, but unqualified parties (even those that are petitioning) must pay $34,000 for the list.

The answer contains a remark that suggests if the state loses the lawsuit, it might repeal the existing law that allows the qualified parties to get a free copy of the list. The law also lets any incumbent legislator have a free list of the voters in his or her district; presumably the legislature would not repeal that provision.

The California Senate Elections Committee will hear SB 696 on Thursday, September 12, at 9 am in room 2040. This is the bill that forces the American Independent Party to change its name by October 29, 2019, or the party will be disqualified. Here is the Senate Elections Committee analysis.

The Reform Party plans to hold a presidential nominating convention in March or April 2020. It will probably be either in Florida or North Carolina. At least two individuals, Joseph Wendt and Darcy Richardson, are seeking the party’s nomination. Both live in Florida.