Senator Chris Dodd is not on the Virginia Democratic presidential primary ballot because his circulators turned in the petition to the state Democratic Party headquarters, rather than the State Board of Elections. By the time the mistake was understood, the deadline had passed. The Dodd campaign is trying to persuade the State Board of Elections to certify him anyway. UPDATE: the post above said he turned in the signatures to the state party, but that is incorrect. His campaign turned them in to Richmond City Hall. The State Board of Elections has since denied his appeal to be on the ballot even though he had not turned in his signatures at the right location.

On December 21, the 5th circuit expedited the lawsuit Mississippi State Democratic Party v Barbour, 07-60667. The 5th circuit also stayed the U.S. District order, so while the case is pending, Mississippi Democratic primaries will remain open to all registered voters. The U.S. District Court had let the Democratic Party close its primaries. Thanks to Steve Rankin for this news.

Former Tennessee Senator Fred Thompson failed to get on the Delaware Republican presidential primary ballot. 500 signatures were due on December 10. Thompson turned in 580 signatures, five minutes before the deadline. However, Delaware elections officials check signatures, and determined that only 430 signatures were valid. If he had turned them in earlier, and the state had checked the signatures before the deadline, he would have been free to get more signatures. However, it was too late for a supplemental petition.