On August 21, NBC News/Marist released a poll for the Illinois gubernatorial race. It shows that the Libertarian nominee is at 6%, and Conservative Party nominee Sam McCann is at 4%.

If either of them polls 5%, their party will become ballot-qualified for all offices, for four years. The only two parties that have enjoyed that status in the last 80 years are the Illinois Solidarity Party 1986-1990, and the Green Party 2006-2010. Prior to 1931, the vote test was 2%, not 5%. Governor is the only race that counts, for a party to be ballot-qualified for all office. Thanks to Political Wire for the link.

On August 20, Emerson Polls released a poll for the New Mexico U.S. Senate race. The results: incumbent Democrat Martin Heinrich 39%, Libertarian Gary Johnson 21%, Mick Rich 11%, undecided 30%.

If Johnson does outpoll Rich in November, that will be the second time since 1970 in which a Republican nominee for U.S. Senate placed third in any general election. In 2006 the Republican nominee in Connecticut placed third. Also, In 1970 in New York, the Republican nominee, Charles Goodell, placed third behind the Conservative and the Democrat. Also in 1970 in Virginia, the Republican nominee, Ray Garland, placed third behind independent Harry F. Byrd, Jr., and Democrat George Rawlings. Thanks to Clifford Thies for the link.

On August 20, at the judge’s instructions, the Georgia voters who are challenging use of the state’s vote-counting machines filed this brief. The purpose of the brief is to show that it is feasible for the state to use a different type of machine in time for the November 2018 election. The cas is Curling v Kemp, n.d., 1:17cv-2989.