On August 17, U.S. District Court Judge Donovan W. Frank, a Clinton appointee, upheld Minnesota’s law that permits unregistered individuals to register to vote on election day. The case is Minnesota Voters Alliance v Ritchie, cv-12-519. The plaintiffs had argued that the U.S. Constitution is violated by the policy, because it is too easy for unqualified individuals to vote. Here is the 22-page opinion. Plaintiffs say they will appeal on an emergency basis.

The judge also upheld Minnesota’s policy of letting certain individuals vote even though they have a conservator or guardian. The plaintiffs had argued that the Minnesota Constitution does not permit such individuals to vote. See this news story. Thanks to the Brad Blog for the link to the opinion.

A Washington state superior court will hear oral arguments in Libertarian Party of Washington State v Reed on Thursday, August 23. This is the lawsuit on whether the Republican Party is a ballot-qualified party in that state.

Filing has closed for Louisiana congressional elections. Republicans are running in all six districts. Democrats are only running in the First, Second, and Third Districts. Libertarians are running in all districts except the First District. Independent candidates are running in the First, Fifth, and Sixth Districts. Thanks to Randall Hayes for this information.

There are no congressional primaries in Louisiana. All candidates run in November. Generally the incumbent, or some candidate, gets at least 50% and is elected. But if no one gets 50%, there is a runoff in December. This system was used in Louisiana 1998 through 2006. In 2006, the legislature decided it didn’t like that system, and changed it effective 2008 to a semi-closed primary and an orthodox general election. But then, after a few years, the legislature decided it didn’t like that either, and went back to the old system effective this year.