On August 27, the Maryland State Board of Elections determined that both the Libertarian Party petition and the Green Party petition have enough valid signatures. Both parties had earlier been told they were on the ballot by a lower state court, which had validated some signatures that the Board had rejected. But then the highest state court, the State Court of Appeals, had reversed the lower court.

Fortunately, the court acted quickly, so there was time for both parties to gather additional signatures. The additional signatures now mean the two parties are ballot-qualified, and their nominees for all the offices they nominated for will be on the ballot. Thanks to Bob Johnston for this news.

On August 23, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court expedited Applewhite v Pennsylvania, 71 MAP 2012. This is the case over whether the new government photo-ID law violates the Pennsylvania Constitution. All briefs will be in by September 7.

On August 18, the ballot-qualified Constitution Party of Oregon nominated Will Christensen for President. See here. Christensen will apparently not be on the ballot in any other state. He had formed the Independent American Party some time ago but it did not carry out any successful petition drives. The Independent American Parties of Nevada and New Mexico are not associated with Christensen’s party.

Christensen campaigns by listing his “dream cabinet”, which he hopes would include persons such as Congressman Allen West of Florida for Secretary of Defense, and Congressman Ron Paul for Secretary of the Treasury. However, there is no indication that these individuals are even aware of their status. Christensen attempted to obtain the presidential nomination of the American Independent Party of California earlier this month, but did not succeed. His vice-presidential running mate is Kenneth Gibbs.