Rhode Island allows state income taxpayers to choose which qualified party to help with a small contribution.  The Moderate Party is listed as a choice because it is qualified.  It is qualified because it got over 5% for Governor in 2014.  However, it is defunct.  Nevertheless, 440 taxpayers this year sent the party $1 on their tax forms.  The state will send the payment to Ken Block, who started the party in 2010, even though Block is now a Republican and has no interest in the party.

UPDATE:  this post is incorrect.  The Moderate Party does have current party officers.  The state chair is Bill Gilbert.  It is true that the money was sent to the wrong person, but otherwise this post is not accurate.

On August 20, the Libertarian Party national committee voted to help the Tennessee Libertarian Party get on the ballot for the 2018 election.  This will be the first time the Libertarian Party has made a serious attempt to qualify as a party in Tennessee.  The procedure, a petition signed by a number of voters equal to 2.5% of the last gubernatorial vote, is so difficult, no group has successfully used that procedure since 1968.  In 1968 the American Party completed the petition, to place George Wallace on the ballot.  Back in 1968 Tennessee didn’t permit independent presidential candidates, so Wallace was forced to do the party petition, which was then 5%.

Bills are pending in the Tennessee legislature to ease the procedure.  Thanks to Independent Political Report for this news.

On Friday, August 18, attorneys for the government of Texas asked the U.S. Supreme Court to overrule the recent decision of a 3-judge U.S. District Court that the state must redraw some of its U.S. House district boundaries.  Thanks to Rick Hasen for this news.