On January 10, the U.S. Supreme Court refused to hear Libertarian Party of Minnesota v Simon, 21-834. Minnesota law requires petitions for independent candidates, and petitions for the nominees of unqualified parties, to carry this wording: “I do not intend to vote at the primary election for the office for which this nomination petition is made.”
The U.S. District Court had upheld this wording, pointing out that the petitioner is free to tell the potential signer that nothing in the language presents the signer from changing his or her mind later, and therefore the statement on the petition is not a severe burden. The Eighth Circuit had issued a non-published short opinion, agreeing with the U.S. District Court. Here is a copy of the cert petition.
ONE MORE LP loss.
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NOOO primaries
EQUAL ballot access – 1 voter forms
PR
APPV
TOTSOP
Minnesota uses a pick-a-party primary where the party selection is secret. Presumably the intent is to keep a voter from participating in the nomination of multiple candidates.
Rather than changing the wording on the petition, Minnesota should eliminate partisan nominations entirely.