The Green Party and the Constitution Party sued Georgia over presidential ballot access on May 25, 2012. U.S. District Court Judge Richard W. Story dismissed the case on July 17, ruling that Jenness v Fortson (the 1971 U.S. Supreme Court opinion that upheld a 5% petition) precludes the lawsuit from having any chance of success.

A week later, the two parties filed a request for reconsideration, pointing out that both the U.S. Supreme Court, and more explicitly the 11th circuit itself, had ruled that Jenness v Fortson doesn’t control presidential election ballot access. The request for reconsideration is now six months old, and Judge Story has neither denied it, or granted a rehearing. He has simply done nothing. Such slow movement in a reconsideration request is very unusual. However, this delay is bad for the public interest. If Judge Story would act on the request for reconsideration now, the Georgia legislature could take cognizance of the issue and perhaps deal with the problem.

On January 9, 2013, the Gary Johnson presidential campaign received another $121,755.77 in primary season matching funds from the Federal Election Commission. This is in addition to the December 19, 2012 payment of $202,026, and to amounts received earlier in 2012.

Therefore, the total amount of primary season matching funds that was received for the entire Johnson campaign now totals $632,016.75.

On January 23, the Virginia Senate Privileges and Elections Committee passed SB 690 by a vote of 10-5. This is the bill that eases the petition requirement for all presidential candidates, whether they are running in a presidential primary, or are petitioning to get on the November ballot. It cuts the number of signatures from 10,000 to 5,000.

The eight Republicans on the Committee supported the bill by a margin of 7-1. The Democrats on the Committee were split, with 3 supporting the bill and 4 opposing it. Thanks to Tom Yager for this news.