The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, the largest newspaper in the state, has this story about the Libertarian Party lawsuit against the law that says it must have chosen all its nominees for 2016 at a state convention no later than November 5, 2015.
The story says there will be a trial starting February 13, but that is inaccurate. The trial in this case is set for more than a year from now (the week starting February 13, 2017, not 2016). But there is a status conference on February 10, 2016, and the Libertarian Party will soon ask for injunctive relief so that any relief it obtains will be useful for the 2016 election.
Why such an early deadline? That seems pretty harsh, especially if the Republican and Democrats have a much later deadline, which is what I am assuming.
Do ANY lawyers for minor parties and independents have ANY brain cells to detect that each election is N-E-W —
to inform the MORON courts about such basic legal point.
NONSTOP SCOTUS hack ballot access cases since 1968.
Thus – EQUAL ballot access tests for each individual candidate.
The real reason for the law is that Arkansas legislators hate having any opponents at all. Every year, a large majority of Arkansas legislators have no opponents on the November ballot, and they like it that way. Forcing minor parties to nominate an entire year before he general election makes it more difficult for minor parties to recruit candidates.