As has previously been reported, the Iowa legislature this year passed rules for party caucuses that ban caucus delegates who aren’t physically present. This analysis explains how that impacts the Libertarian Party, which is the only ballot-qualified party in Iowa other than the Republican and Democratic Parties. The author, Joseph Howe, a former state chair of the Iowa Libertarian Party, suggests that the party might sue, or it might ignore the new law.
The fundamental problem is that Iowa mandates parties be “qualified”. If candidates qualified as individuals, groups of voters could organize to assist the candidate without any need for state recognition.
These issues should be up to each party, and not dictated by the state.
@WZ,
The Libertarian Party recognized by the State of Iowa is the body of electors who have declared they are Libertarians. The State of Iowa can require that party officers are chosen by party members.
If the Libertarian Party were truly a private organization, the State of Iowa would not maintain the membership rolls or accord them nomination privileges.
public electors doing public nominations for public offices
1989 Eu opin