Presidential Elector Candidates for Shiva Ayyadurai Sue Tennessee for Ballot Access

On September 10, presidential elector candidates pledged to Shiva Ayyadurai filed a federal lawsuit against the Secretary of State of Tennessee. Although their independent presidential petition had enough valid signatures, the Secretary disqualified them because they say they are pledged to Ayyadurai, who was born in India.

The case is Lupo v Tennessee Secretary of State, m.d., 3:24cv-1088. It is assigned to U.S. District Court Judge Waverly Crenshaw, an Obama appointee. Here is the Complaint.

Missouri Supreme Court Puts Initiative Back on Ballot

On September 10, the Missouri Supreme Court restored an initiative concerning abortion to the ballot. A lower court had removed it on September 6. Coleman v Ashcroft, SC 100742. The challengers had claimed that the initiative had failed to list all the existing Missouri laws that would be repealed or amended if the initiative passed. The Supreme Court did not explain its reasoning, but said it would do that later. The court order does not say if the court order is unanimous or not.

Montana Green Party Wins Ballot Access Lawsuit, but Democrats are Appealing

On September 3, a Montana state trial court kept Green Party U.S. Senate candidate Robert Barb on the ballot. Montana Democratic Party v State of Montana and Christi Jacobsen, Lewis & Clark Jud. District, BDV-2024-542. However, the Democratic Party is appealing to the State Supreme Court.

The Green Party’s original nominee, chosen by the June Green Party primary, had withdrawn, and the party’s state committee had replaced him with Robert Barb. The Democratic Party said the Green Party’s bylaws don’t permit the state committee to do that; that only the entire membership of the Green Party can do that. However, the judge said that the Democratic Party’s challenge was filed improperly. Here is the 9-page opinion.