The Realistic Balance Party, a party that exists only to contest city elections in Middletown, Connecticut, still doesn’t know if its candidates will be on the November 5, 2013 ballot. See this story. A decision from a lower state court is expected by the end of the week.

Several similar lawsuits had been adjudicated recently in a few other Connecticut cities and towns. A new state law that year said that parties that nominate by convention must obtain the signatures of all their nominees, on the certificates that the party submits to election officials. The new law was not publicized and courts have been trying to determine if due process for these parties and their nominees was violated when they were kept off the ballot.

On October 15, a California State Court of Appeals permitted the city of Palmdale to proceed with its November 5 election for city council. However, it is still not certain that the results will be allowed to stand. A lawsuit is currently pending against the city’s at-large city council elections, based on the California Voting Rights Act, which prevents at-large city elections if the at-large system seems to prevent a sizable ethic or racial minority from winning any seats on the council.

On September 30, a Superior Court Judge had enjoined the election. Then the State Court of Appeals reinstated it, partly on the technicality that the plaintiffs had not filed a bond. But then the Superior Court Judge had ruled that the bond isn’t needed, and the election was off again; but now it is on.

On October 14, seven Wisconsin legislators introduced AB 419. It provides that write-in votes should only be counted for candidates who file a campaign finance statement. The bill makes an exception for offices for which no one’s name is printed on the ballot.

Candidates who have no contributions or expenditures are still free to file a campaign finance statement. But if they do have contributions or expenditures, they must choose a campaign treasurer.

AB 419 has a hearing in the House Committee on Campaigns and Elections on October 16. Wisconsin already requires write-in presidential candidates to file a notice if they want their write-ins counted. But, current law for office other than president requires that all write-ins be counted. The purpose behind AB 419 is probably to save election administrators the costs of counting write-ins for people who are not running, or who do not exist, such as famous cartoon characters. Thanks to Rick Kissell for this news.