On January 2, the North Dakota Secretary of State determined that the Constitution Party petition for ballot status has enough valid signatures. North Dakota now has 4 qualified parties (Democratic, Republican, Libertarian and Constitution).

North Dakota has an unfair election law that requires a newly-qualifying party to poll 300 votes for any of its potential nominees, in that party’s own primary. The typical North Dakota primary turnout for all parties combined is only about 2,500 votes per legislative district. No party other than the Democratic or Republican Parties has ever been able to meet this vote hurdle for a candidate for the legislature. Consequently, North Dakota is the only state in the nation that has not had any minor party candidates (with the party label) on the November ballot, during the last 50 years, for state legislature. The Libertarian and Constitution Parties may try to persuade the legislature to repeal the minimum vote test; it serves no purpose and no such test exists in any other state. Similar requirements were held unconstitutional in Minnesota and Washington state during 2004.

UPDATE: the ACLU may have its lobbyist work on the North Dakota election law problem with the 2007 session of the legislature.