On August 29, independent candidate Russell Neverdon won a procedural ruling in state court in Baltimore, Maryland. His petition had been rejected for not having enough valid signatures. He needs 4,160 and submitted 5,686. His campaign checked the petition before it was submitted and believed it was sufficient, but the Baltimore city election officials said he is almost 1,000 short. He sued and on August 29, the judge agreed that he can present evidence that he has enough valid signatures. That will happen in court on Friday, September 5. Neverdon is running for State’s Attorney. If he doesn’t get on the ballot, only one name, the Democratic nominee, will be on the ballot.

The Chicago Tribune has this lengthy and detailed editorial, condemning Illinois ballot access laws. The editorial covers not only Republican efforts to eliminate competition, but Democratic efforts as well.

The editorial can be read for free if the reader signs up for five free articles per month.

According to this story, the chair of the Kentucky Republican Party wants each signature on the U.S. Senate Libertarian petition re-checked. The Libertarian Party already checked the status of each signature it collected.