Several months ago, a U.S. District Court struck down the Arkansas March 1 petition deadline for non-presidential independent candidates. However, the Secretary of State still believes that independent candidates in 2018 were required to file a declaration of candidacy by March 1. This interpretation is reducing the number of independent candidates who might otherwise be petitioning now.

No independent candidates for statewide office filed a declaration of candidacy by March 1. However, three independents filed a declaration for U.S. House, and five filed one for legislature.

Elizabeth May, leader of Canada’s Green Party, was arrested on March 23 at a pipeline construction site. See this story. The incident is somewhat reminiscent of the 2016 arrest of Jill Stein at a similar protest.

On March 21, West Virginia Governor Jim Justice signed HB 4002. It abolishes multi-member House of Delegates districts, starting with the redistricting that will take place after the 2020 census. Under the current districts, there are 20 districts that elect multiple members, including one district that elects five.

On March 22, he signed HB 4434. It bans members of qualified parties from petitioning as independent candidates. It would not apply to presidential or vice-presidential candidates unless they lived in West Virginia.