The August 10 edition of Lancaster’s daily newspaper has this editorial, asking the state not to appeal the U.S. District Court decision of last month that struck down Pennsylvania’s ballot access procedures for minor parties. Although the newspaper had previously carried an op-ed making the same point, this is the first editorial on the subject.

The daily newspaper in Lancaster was formerly called the Intelligencer Journal, but now it is “LNP”. The editorial says the state still hasn’t decided whether or not to appeal. It must decide by the end of August.

The United Independent Party is a qualified party in Massachusetts. It will remain ballot-qualified after November 2016 even if it has no statewide nominees that year if it gets its registration up to 1% of the state total.

Two weeks ago, the Massachusetts Secretary of State informed the party that it now has 8,576 registered members. At this rate of growth, it is very likely to have the 40,000 or 45,000 that it will need by November 2016.

Ever since 1991, Massachusetts had let groups become qualified parties if they get their registration up to 1%, but no group has ever before used that method.

The party could also remain ballot-qualified after November 2016 if it polls 3% or more for President in November 2016, but the party doesn’t expect to get involved in the presidential election. No other statewide offices are up in Massachusetts in 2016.

On August 10, Kentucky independent candidate Drew Curtis submitted approximately 10,000 signatures. He needs 5,000 valid to be on the ballot for Governor of Kentucky. The election is November 3, 2015. UPDATE: the Secretary of State’s office has already determined that his petition is valid.