Arkansas has always had open primaries since primaries first began early in the 20th century. However, on June 8, 2024, the state Republican convention voted to close Republican primaries, so that only registered Republicans can vote. However, the state chair and the state executive committee of the Republican Party then took the position that the convention action is void, because proper notice hadn’t been given in advance of the convention about that vote.

On August 26, some Republican state convention delegates sued the party’s State Chair and State Executive Committee in federal court, to force those officers to accept the decision of the state convention. The lawsuit also sues the Secretary of State. Lancaster v Thurston, e.d., 2:24cv-161.

Here is the Complaint, which attaches the party rules to establish that the state convention is the ultimate authority in party governance.

On August 29 the Virginia State Board of Elections determined that three presidential petitions have enough valid signatures: Robert F. Kennedy, Jr, Chase Oliver, and Jill Stein.

The Board is still working on verifying the petitions of Randall Terry, Claudia De la Cruz, and Shiva Ayyadurai.

The Board said Cornel West will not be on the ballot because of some unspecified paperwork error. The Department did not say if he had enough valid signatures or not.

On August 28, two Wyoming independent legislative candidates filed a lawsuit in state court, arguing that Wyoming’s “sore loser” law violates the Wyoming Constitution. See this story.