The Moderate Party of Rhode Island won a constitutional lawsuit on May 29, giving it the ability to start circulating its petition for full party status. The party received the blank petition forms from the state on June 1, and by volunteer efforts alone, already has 1,500 signatures. It needs 23,589 valid signatures by next year.

It is still possible that the state will appeal the decision. Although the Secretary of State doesn’t wish to appeal, it is possible the Board of Elections will appeal. A decision must be made by the end of June.

The US Supreme issued opinions today, but none on election law cases.

On October 18, 2006, Connecticut TV station WVIT, channel 30, was hosting a gubernatorial debate at which only the Democratic and Republican nominees were invited. The Connecticut State Police Central Criminal Intelligence Unit sent officers to that debate, because the police believed that Greens might show up to protest the exclusion of their gubernatorial candidate. These police officers were separate from the normal police unit that provides security for the Governor, and of course they were also in addition to any city police. As it turns out, no Greens protested at that debate. This information has surfaced because of a somewhat related lawsuit filed by the campaign manager for the Green Party’s gubernatorial campaign that year. See this story. Thanks to Green Party Watch for the link.