Now that the Florida Democratic Party has decided not to comply with national Democratic Party rules over the date of Florida’s presidential primary, the lawsuit DiMaio v Democratic National Committee & Florida Democratic Party (middle district, 8:07-cv-1552) assumes greater importance. That case was filed in federal court on August 30, and both the national and state Democratic Parties will be answering the complaint on September 25. The lawsuit argues that Florida Democratic voters are being disenfranchised in the process of choosing a Democratic presidential candidate. The lawsuit argues that it isn’t the voters’ fault if the national and state parties can’t agree, but that the result is that the Florida Democratic voters will be losing their input if the dispute isn’t resolved one way or another.

The Illinois Green Party is entitled to a presidential primary, but the state won’t hold one unless at least two candidates qualify for that primary. Illinois law requires all candidates in a presidential primary to submit 3,000 signatures, and they are due in November 2007. Therefore, the Illinois Green Party is helping four Greens with their primary petitions. The four are Kent Mesplay, Jared Ball, Kat Swift and Jesse Johnson.

The California Libertarian Party has asked the California Secretary of State to list these 12 candidates in the party’s presidential primary: John Finan of New York, NY; Barry Hess of Glendale, Az; Dave Hollist of Alta Loma, Ca; Daniel Imperato of West Palm Beach, Fl; Bob Jackson of Constantine, Mi; Michael Jingozian of Sherwood, Or; Steve Kubby of Fort Bragg, Ca; Alden Link of Newburgh, NY; Robert Milnes of Camden, NJ; George Phillies of Worcester, Ma; Wayne Allyn Root of Henderson, Nv; and Christine Smith of Arvada, Co.