U.S. District Court Judge M. Hannah Louck has expedited the case Parson v Alcorn. This is the case over whether the Virginia State Board of Elections should comply with the Republican Party’s request that voters who ask for a Republican presidential primary ballot in March 1 must sign a statement that says the signer is a Republican. The statement says, “My signature below indicates that I am a Republican.”

Here is a newspaper editorial in opposition to the sign-in statement. In my opinion, the newspaper’s use of the word “oath” is not good language usage. “Oath” is defined as “a formal calling upon God or a god to witness to the truth of what one says, or to witness that one sincerely intends to do what one says.”

The lawsuit, filed by three voters, is a strong one. The Virginia open primary has already been upheld in the past, on the grounds that Virginia parties are free to decide for themselves if they want a government-administered primary or if they would rather nominate at their own expense by convention or caucus. The Virginia Republican Party considered using a caucus this year instead of a presidential primary, but decided to keep the primary.

The Modern Whig Party of Louisiana has arranged for a January 28 forum for all presidential candidates who are willing to attend. So far, ten candidates have accepted:

1. Sedinam Kinamo Christin Moyowasifza Curry, candidate for the Green presidential nomination, from Los Angeles, California
2. Robert Dionisio, an independent candidate from Atlanta, Georgia
3. Zoltan Istvan, presidential nominee of the Transhumanist Party, of Mill Valley, California
4. John Fitzgerald Johnson, an independent candidate from Cincinnati, Ohio
5. Lynn S. Kahn, an independent candidate from Silver Spring, Maryland
6. Chris Keniston, presidential nominee of the Veterans Party, of Vernon, Texas
7. Valma Kittington, candidate for the Republican presidential nomination, from Midland City, Alabama
8. Roger E. Nicholas, candidate for the Unity Party presidential nomination, from Maryville, Missouri
9. Rhett Smith, candidate for the Libertarian presidential nomination, from San Antonio, Texas
10. Verone A. Thomas, candidate for the Modern Whig presidential nomination, from Lake Charles, Louisiana

The event will be live-streamed. It is being held in the conference room of Reeves Uptown Catering, at 1639 Ryan Street, Lake Charles, Louisiana, a room that seats 200 people. The moderators are Jackie Simien, a retired television news anchor, and Derick Kee, of the civic organization V.I.S.A. Coalition. The event starts at 6 p.m. and ends at 9 p.m. There is a Republican presidential debate set for the same evening.

The Bangor Daily News has this story about the Maine Libertarian Party ballot access lawsuit.