The July 29 issue of the Louisville Courier-Journal has this story about the Green Party’s state convention. The article discusses Kentucky ballot access, but is not completely accurate. In Kentucky, if a group polls 2% of the vote for President, it is a qualified minor party for the next four years, and can nominate by convention, with no petitioning needed. The only parties that have attained that status, in the last 80 years, are the Reform Party 1996-2000, the Anderson Coalition 1980-1984, and the American Party 1968-1972. The article implies that a group must poll 20% in order to be free of petitioning for its nominees.

Albany County, New York, elects a County Executive this November. No Republican qualified for the party’s primary, for that office. One candidate, Nathan Lebron, tried to get on the Republican primary ballot, but his petition was rejected for lack of enough valid signatures. See this story. The person who challenged his petition is also a Republican. Thanks to Bill Van Allen for the link.

On July 18, the Michigan ACLU filed a federal lawsuit against officials of the Genesee County Parks Department, because the officials were attempting to outlaw petitioning within the Linden county park, except during daylight hours in a very small, isolated part of that park, and only for people who had first obtained a permit. On July 22 the officials conceded, and signed a consent decree that no one needs a permit to petition, and that most of the park is open to petitioning. See the complaint here. Thanks to Ballot Box News for this news. The plaintiffs are attempting to get signatures on a petition to recall the Governor.

Genesee County includes Flint. The case is Miller v McMillan, eastern district, 2:11-cv-13088.