The U.S. Supreme Court has assigned case number 21-226 to Libertarian Party of Ohio v Crites. The state’s response is due September 15. This is the case that challenges the Ohio law on the composition of the state Elections Commission. The Commission consists of three Democrats, three Republicans, and one person who is not a member of any party. Therefore a member of some other party can never qualify for membership on the commission. Yet the commission has jurisdiction over state-sponsored general election gubernatorial debates, which strongly affect parties other than the two major parties. Thanks to Thomas Jones for this news.
The Coalition for Free & Open Elections (COFOE) has a board meeting on August 22, and the board expects to discuss this case and consider any ideas for obtaining an amicus curiae brief on the side of the Ohio Libertarian Party.
Glad to see this unfair law challenged.
Whether one agrees with the Libertarian Party or not. They have been around for quite awhile and made ballot access easier through lawsuits during the last 40+ years. I remember them at festivals and city fairs in the 1970’s.
Isn’t this the first time the Supreme Ct has docketed a Libertarian suit?
The Duopoly parties are essentially government agencies. They legislate of themselves, by themselves and for themselves.
The law seems to be clear cut case of government discrimination based on a protected liberty interest.p
It should be all Republicans.