On August 30, the Progressive Party, and the Working Families Party, filed a lawsuit in Oregon state court against a proposal by the Secretary of State to print three-letter abbreviations on the November ballot, instead of full party names.  The case is Progressive Party of Oregon v Brown, Marion County Circuit Court, 10C-20167.

Oregon in the past has always printed party names on ballots, but this year the Secretary of State wants to use abbreviations, which would be:  REP for Republican; DEM for Democratic; CON for Constitution; IND for Independent Party; LBT for Libertarian; PGP for Pacific Green; PRO for Progressive; and WFP for Working Families.

Also the Secretary of State wants to use NAV for independent candidates.  “NAV” means “non-affiliated voter.”  The lawsuit will probably be heard quickly.  The lawsuit rests mostly on statutory construction, but includes constitutional arguments as well.  Another co-plaintiff is incumbent State Senator Larry George.  Here is the brief.

On August 30, a Florida state court judge refused to issue an injunction, forcing Governor Charlie Crist to return certain campaign donations made by people who now say they would not have given those contributions if they had known he would leave the Republican Party and run as an independent.  See this story.  However, the case is still alive.

The South Dakota Constitution Party is appealing its ballot access loss.  See this story.  For earlier coverage of the U.S. District Court’s adverse decision, see this earlier coverage.