The briefs in Libertarian Party of Kentucky v Grimes, e.d., 3:15cv-86, are due by April 7. The case is being expedited. The issue is whether the state’s definition of “political party” is too restrictive. In the last 100 years, only four groups, besides the Democratic and Republican Parties, have qualified for party status in Kentucky: the Progressive Party 1924-1928, the American Party 1968-1972, the Anderson Coalition Party 1980-1984, and the Reform Party 1996-2000. The definition is a group that polls at least 2% for President in Kentucky.
Kentucky and Washington state are the only two states in which it is impossible for a group to become a qualified party unless it makes a certain showing in a presidential election. The plaintiffs are the Libertarian Party and the Constitution Party.
In Washington, the concept of qualified party is meaningless except for presidential elections.
Also, in Washington, a qualified party elects party officers in a government-administered primary. And a qualified party has the right to name a new legislator, if a legislator dies or resigns.
Filling of vacancies is a constitutional provision, with no statutory implementation. Washington makes a distinction between minor and major parties, not qualified and non-qualified.
The constitution says “party”, not qualified party. If a legislator who was a member of a minor party resigned or died, then the central committee (county or state) would nominate three persons to fill the vacancy.
Washington unnecessarily conducts elections of precinct officers of major parties.
Better yet, Washington should amend the constitution to read:
WRITS OF ELECTION TO FILL VACANCIES — The governor shall issue writs of election to fill such vacancies as may occur in either house of the legislature.
According to a past Jefferson County Clerk, [Louisville] the Reform Party was never told that they were qualified because the state did not want to go through the hassle of finding Reform poll workers, vote monitors, etc.
I don’t know about the Anderson Coalition, but I suspect the same was true then.
According to https://vr.sos.ky.gov/stats/voterstatsdistrict.pdf there are still 78 Reform Party members left.