On August 1, David Gill, an independent candidate for U.S. House in the 13th Illinois district, filed a federal lawsuit against the Illinois requirement that independents for U.S. House need a petition of 5% of the last vote cast. The case is Gill v Scholz, c.d., 1:16cv-3221.

Gill needed 10,754 valid signatures. His petition was challenged, and the process resulted in a finding that only 8,593 of his signatures were valid. The lawsuit does not attack the accuracy of the validity check; instead it is a challenge to the 5% requirement itself.

On July 28, the ballot-qualified Natural Law Party of Michigan nominated Emidio “Mimi” Soltysik for President, and Angela Walker for Vice-President. They are also the nominees of the Socialist Party.

In 2012, the Natural Law Party nominated Rocky Anderson, Justice Party presidential nominee. In 2008 it nominated Ralph Nader. In 2004 it nominated Walt Brown, that year’s Socialist Party presidential nominee. The Natural Law Party is the last surviving renmant of the Natural Law Party, which was active in elections 1992-2002. It remains on the ballot in Michigan because Michigan has a very easy vote test for a party to remain on.

The New York Times has this graphic, showing that only 9% of U.S. residents voted for either Hillary Clinton or Donald Trump in the 2016 major party nomination procedures (caucuses and presidential primaries). The graphic would be better, though, if it excluded children and non-citizens. Thanks to Political Wire for the link.