On August 12, the Alaska Supreme Court ruled that if parties desire to have a blanket primary in conjunction with certain other parties, they may do so, notwithstanding state election law. Green Party of Alaska v State, S11272. The Green and Republican Moderate Parties had filed this lawsuit in 2002, saying they wanted to share a primary ballot, and invite all registered voters to use that ballot. Later the Democratic, Libertarian, and Alaskan Independence Parties had joined the case, and in 2004 the Green, Democratic, Libertarian and Alaskan Independence Party had used a blanket primary ballot. The Republicans had their own ballot, and the Republican Moderate Party by then was no longer qualified.
The decision was 5-0.
Still pending in the Alaska Supreme Court is the other lawsuit, over whether the state’s definition of “political party” is too strict or not. That is also called Green Party of Alaska v State.
catalogood
http://nexium-uex5.blogspot.com
THE FIRST SUCCESSFUL FIGHT TO GAIN ACCESS TO THE PRIMARY BALLOT WAS BY THE ALASKA PARTY IN THE LATE 1950S. THE TERRITORIAL ELECTION LAW PROVIDED FOR ANY GROUP, HOLDING A CONVENTION, ELECTING OFFICERS AND ADOPTING A POLITICAL PLATFORM COULD PARTICIPATE IN THE ALASKAN ELECTORAL PROCESS INCLUDING THE PRIMARY. THIS WAS CHANGED BY THE FIRST STATE LEGISLATURE THAT MADE THE PARTY “A GROUP” WITHOUT PRIMARY ACCESS. A LAW SUIT FOLLOWED BY ME ON BEHALF THE PARTY BUT WE LOST.