On August 12, a Michigan state court ruled when an individual signs the same petition twice, the state law striking both signatures violates the U.S. Constitution. In re City of Benton Harbor Mayoral Recall Election, Berrien County 2014-0117. The opinion finds that some individuals, in good faith, sign a petition a second time because they don’t remember if they already signed it or not.

The Secretary of State had filed a brief in support of the restriction. As a result of the decision, a recall petition for the Mayor of Benton Harbor now has enough valid signatures. Thanks to John Anthony LaPietra for the news.

On August 12, the plaintiffs filed this brief in Balsam v Guadagno, the federal lawsuit that says states cannot pay for partisan primaries unless all voters are permitted to vote in those primaries.

U.S. District Court Judge Lawrence Piersol will hear Myers v Gant on Monday, August 18, at 2 p.m. This is the South Dakota case over whether an independent candidate for Governor, Michael Myers, may substitute a new Lieutenant Governor running mate. South Dakota law permits such substitution for partisan candidates but has no such provision for independent candidates.