The Michigan Democratic Party has been left with no one on its August 2018 primary ballot for U.S. House, 1st district. See this story. The First District has a Republican incumbent, Jack Bergman, and is in the northern part of the state, including the upper peninsula. In 2016 the general election vote was: Republican 197,777; Democratic 144,334; Libertarian 13,386; Green 4,774.

The Democrat who had petitioned for a place on this year’s ballot, Matthew Morgan, had enough valid signatures, but he was removed because on one form, he listed his post office box instead of his physical home address. He will sue to try to get back on the ballot. If that doesn’t work, he will mount a write-in campaign in the primary. Thanks to Thomas Jones for this news.

On May 29, the U.S. Supreme Court asked for a response from the federal government in Segovia v U.S., 17-1463, the case over voting rights for citizens who move from Illinois to Guam, Puerto Rico, or the U.S. Virgin Islands. This is a very significant development, and it suggests there is a fair chance the Court will accept the case.

The U.S. Supreme Court had also set a new conference date, June 28.

Maine holds a primary on June 12. Independent gubernatorial candidate Terry Hayes, like all independent candidates in Maine, is only on the ballot in November, not the June primary. Her campaign wants to have volunteers handing out campaign literature near the entrance to the polls on primary day. But the Secretary of State says she can’t do that within 250 feet of the entrance of any polling place.

On May 26, she sued the Secretary of State, asking for injunctive relief. Hayes v Department of the Secretary of State, Kennebec Superior Court, AP-18-26. Here is the 13-page complaint. The law says, “On election day, certain activities are restricted at polling places, as follows: Influence or attempting to influence another person’s decision regarding a candidate or question that is on the ballot for the election that day.”

Hayes’ brief says that her campaign is not attempting to influence any voter about whom to vote for in either the Republican or Democratic primaries, and that in any event many voters who come to the polls on primary day will be independent voters who are there only to vote on a ballot measure, and who can’t participate in the major party primaries.