The Arkansas Libertarian Party is currently in federal court over the Arkansas law that says newly-qualifying parties must choose all their nominees (except President) an entire year before a general election. The case is Libertarian Party of Arkansas v Martin, e.d., 4:15cv-635.
On April 21, the state sent an interrogatory request to the party. The state wants to see a copy of all of these documents, for the period from December 31, 2010, to the present: (1) the party’ call to convention; (2) the membership list, applications, and receipts; (3) newsletters; (4) blog or internet postings; (4) agenda for any convention; (5) minutes for any convention; (6) agenda for any state party meeting; (7) minutes for any state party meeting; (8) party rules; (9) agenda for any committee meetings of the executive committee; (10) minutes for any committee meetings of the executive committee; (11) list of officers of the party; (12) correspondence with any members of the Party concerning access to the ballot in Arkansas; (13) correspondence with the national Libertarian Party, or any of its Officers, concerning access to the ballot in Arkansas.
When states have difficulty justifying restrictive ballot access, and they are in court, they frequent try to deflect the question away from the characteristics of the law, to trying to find fault with the minor party or independent candidate who filed the lawsuit.
Some of this stuff is public information, and they should look it up themselves, and some of this stuff is none of their damn business.
Andy – and all of it is “bury them in paperwork” with consequent expense and delay.
What century before a minor party gets a lawyer with ANY brain cells able to detect that —
1. Every election is NEW.
2. Separate is NOT equal — Brown v. Bd of Ed 1954
3. Thus – EQUAL ballot access tests for ALL candidates for the same office in the same area.