According to CNN Political Ticker, (scroll down about 4 items on CNN’s August 8 page) on August 9, the South Carolina Republican Party will announce that it is moving its presidential primary from February 2 to January 19. That would move the South Carolina Republican primary ahead of the South Carolina Democratic primary (which is set for January 29).

It would also move the South Carolina Republican primary ahead of Florida (now set for January 29) and ahead of New Hampshire (now set for January 22).

South Carolina major parties administer their own presidential primaries, although the state reimburses them for the cost. That is why South Carolina presidential primaries for one party are not necessarily on the same day as the other major party’s primary. That is also why the primary dates can be moved around, even when the state legislature is not in session.

Two organizations filed amici curiae briefs in the U.S. Supreme Court on the side of political parties, in the Washington state “top-two” case. The briefs were filed by the Democratic National Committee and the California Democratic Party. There are no amici on the side of Washington state and the Grange. Although Louisiana’s amici brief says on the cover it is on the side of Washington state and the Grange, it actually isn’t. UPDATE: here is the Democratic National Committee brief; here is the California Democratic Party one.

Although perhaps ten individuals have said they want the Green Party presidential nomination next year, only one of them, as far as is known, has been circulating a petition to get the party on the ballot. Gail Parker, of Virginia, has been petitioning in Arkansas to help the Green Party’s petition drive there, and in those two days has collected 160 signatures.