On August 6, Seattle held non-partisan primaries for city office, including four of the city’s nine city council seats. Seattle elects all its city council members at-large. Candidates file for one particular position, and voters vote separately for each position. Kshama Sawant, a leader of Socialist Alternative Party, polled 33% in a three-candidate race. She will now run in November against incumbent Richard Conlin in a two-person race. Conlin polled 49%. See this story. Thanks to Scott West for the news.

With only 5% of Detroit precincts counted, there are more write-in votes for Mayor than for any particular ballot-listed candidate. See this story.

Manlius, New York, is a town of 32,370 residents near Syracuse. It has a town ordinance requiring permission before any resident can post a lawn sign involving political candidates or issues. On August 6, a resident filed a federal lawsuit to overturn the ordinance. He also challenged another rule that says even after permission is gained, political signs can only be displayed 30 days before the election and must be removed no later than seven days after the election.

The case is Rubin v Theobald, northern district, 13-cv-929.