On September 15, independent candidate Clayton Walker was sentenced to probation and 200 hours of community service. He tried to get on the ballot in 2014 for U.S. Senate, bbut was convicted of forging names on his petition. See this story.
On September 14, a New York state court ruled that the Women’s Equality Party has no valid officers and no valid bylaws, so until that changes, the party can’t nominate anyone for any office this year. The decision is DeLabio v Fronczak, Niagara County Supreme Court, 156792.
New York election law says when a group polls 50,000 votes for Governor and becomes a ballot-qualified party, a majority of its statewide nominees are then empowered to name the party’s temporary officers. But after the November 2014 election, only two of the party’s four statewide nominees acted. All four of the party’s nominees were also the Democratic Party’s nominees. The Governor and Lieutenant Governor signed the paperwork, but the Attorney General and Comptroller nominees did not. The opinion says, therefore, the party has no legitimate officers and therefore no legitimate bylaws. All of its nominees this year are now off the ballot, unless the decision is reversed on appeal. Here is the opinion. Thanks to Mike Drucker for the link.
The Butte Standard, daily newspaper for Butte, Montana, has this op-ed by Republican Party state chairman Jeff Essmann. Essmann makes the philosophical case in favor of closed primaries.
On September 14, the Florida House of Representatives submitted a proposed U.S. House redistricting plan to a state court judge. Later this month the judge will submit his own recommendations to the Florida Supreme Court. See this story.
UPDATE: also, see this story.
On September 12, the Washington State Republican Party determined that its May 24 presidential primary will be binding, not just a beauty contest. See this post from Frontloading HQ.