On August 10, the Mississippi Republican Party formally intervened in the lawsuit that had been filed by the Mississippi Democratic Party to gain a closed Democratic primary. The case is now pending in the 5th circuit. The US District Court Judge had ruled that Democrats may close their primary if they wish, but that the state must start requiring photo-ID for voters at primaries. The Republican intervenors are simply saying that the Republican Party is pleased with current Mississippi election law, and that Republicans don’t wish to have any requirement that voters must show photo-ID to vote in Repubilcan primaries.

On August 9, the ACLU filed a lawsuit on behalf of the New Hampshire Libertarian Party, against a law that took effect last month. It provides that the qualified parties have inexpensive access to a statewide list of registered voters that contains more complete information than any other list of registered voters in the state. New Hampshire does not recognize any political parties except for the Democratic and Republican Parties. The lawsuit was filed in state court in Merrimack County. It has a hearing on August 13.

UPDATE: the judge refused to grant a temporary restraining order at the August 13 hearing. The ACLU had sought to prevent the Secretary of State from distributing the superior lost to the two major parties, while the case is pending. Proceedings on the constitutionality of the law will proceed at a more leisurely pace.

On August 9, a New York state court in Brooklyn heard arguments over whether the New York State Independence Party may give counties outside New York city local control over the party’s nominations process, while at the same time giving the five counties within New York city substantially less control. The court battle is fueled by the intra-party contest between supporters of Lenora Fulani and the faction of the party that opposes her. Meanwhile, Lenora Fulani has said she will probably run for one of the 3 New York city citywide offices in 2009. Incumbent Mayor Mike Bloomberg is termed out so the Mayoral seat will be vacant in 2009.