The Iowa Secretary of State has finally responded to the lawsuit filed in mid-September by the Libertarian and Green Parties, over whether voters should be able to register into parties other than the Democratic and Republican Parties. However, it’s still too early to tell if the state will fight the lawsuit or talk about a settlement. The state’s only response so far is to answer the allegations in the complaint. They acknowledge there are no factual disputes.
I predict they won’t settle.
From their perspective, the secretary of state’s office is doing exactly what the state legislature has told them to do in their capacity as elections supervisor. Consequently, even if they’d like to be accomodating or otherwise reach a settlement, they believe they are totally unauthorized to change a thing.
And I believe they’re correct that they have no latitude. It’s going to have to go to trial.