On August 25, the group that submitted a petition to be on the Michigan ballot as a political party called the Tea Party, filed a lawsuit to obtain a place on the ballot.  The case is The Tea Party v Board of State Canvassers, state court of appeals, Lansing, 299805.

The group has enough valid signatures on its petition, but the Board of State Canvassers refused to put it on the ballot because of various paperwork irregularities.  The petition form is a state form that asks the group circulating the petition to enter the name of the party.  The group filled out the form with the words “Tea Party”.  However, on the certificate naming the party’s officers, and the campaign finance reports, the party is “The Tea Party.”   Also, in Michigan, the party’s vignette (the picture that goes on the ballot representing the party; this is called a “logo” in other states) says the name of the party is “The Tea Party”.

Democrats in Kauai County, Hawaii, have gone to state court to keep a Republican candidate off the ballot for a state legislative seat.  They allege paperwork errors.  Candidates for the legislature in Hawaii only need 15 signatures.  If the Democratic attempt is successful, the Democratic nominee will be unopposed, and write-ins in Hawaii are banned.  See this story.  UPDATE:  the Democratic Party lost its lawsuit.  See this story.

On August 23, Bill Redpath, Libertarian Party nominee for U.S. House, Virginia’s 10th district, debated his Democratic Party opponent, Jeff Barnett.  See this story.  The third candidate in the race, incumbent Republican Frank Wolf, did not participate.  Thanks to Melinda Moore for the link.  Redpath is somewhat well known nationally because he was the chair of the Libertarian National Committee 2006-2010.