The Maryland Republican Party is mulling over whether to let independent voters vote in Republican Party primaries. See this story. The Maryland Republican Party previously let independent voters vote in its primary, but later the party changed its mind and excluded them. Thanks to PoliticalWire for the link.
Turkey uses proportional representation, but requires parties to poll 10% of the national vote to have any seats in Parliament. This article says that the movement to lower the threshold to something lower is picking up popular support. The article says that one woman is walking the 280 miles from Istanbul to Ankara to gather publicity for the idea.
On July 15, a state trial court in Michigan ruled that Mike Duggan may be a write-in candidate for Mayor of Detroit. One of his opponents had sued to prevent him from filing as a declared write-in candidate. The opponent seemed not to understand that the reason 45 states have write-ins, at least in some circumstances, is to enhance the voting freedom of voters. See this story.
On July 15, the Illinois Libertarian Party filed this final brief in U.S. District Court, in its lawsuit to overturn the unique Illinois law that requires newly-qualifying parties (but not other parties) to run a full slate of candidates. The state will then file a response and then the court will make a decision. Earlier in this same case, another U.S. District Court Judge already enjoined the requirement.
On June 13, the New Jersey Libertarian Party state meeting decided not to run anyone for U.S. Senate in the October 16, 2013 special election. No other minor party or independent candidate seems to have announced plans to run anyone either. It is possible that the ballot will list only the Democratic and Republican nominees. Any other candidate could get on the ballot with 800 valid signatures by mid-August.
