On June 3, the Maryland Green and Libertarian Parties filed this reply brief in their ballot access case, Maryland Green Party v Hogan, 1:20cv-1253. This is the case that argues for ballot access relief due to the health crisis.
Reply
On June 1, U.S. District Court Judge Lance Walker held a hearing in Baines v Dunlap, 1:19cv-509. This is the Maine Libertarian ballot access case. The party is asking for injunctive relief, to restore it to the ballot. It was removed in November 2018 for failing to have 10,000 registered members who cast a ballot in the general election. The state then converted all its registered members from Libertarians to independents, without even asking them.
The case also challenges the January deadline for a new party to qualify, and the number of signatures needed for a member of a small qualified party to get on his or her own party’s primary ballot. A decision will be rendered fairly soon.
On June 3, the Alaska Libertarian Party filed a federal lawsuit, asking for ballot access relief for 2020 due to the health crisis. Alaska Libertarian Party v Fenumiai, 3:20cv-127. Here is the Complaint.
The case is assigned to U.S. District Court Judge John W. Sedwick, a Bush Sr. appointee.
This is the first constitutional ballot access case ever filed in Alaska. Traditionally, minor party and independent candidates have sued in state court.
On June 2, the Eureka, California city council voted unanimously to ask voters if they want to use ranked choice voting for city office. And in a preliminary vote, the Albany, California city council moved closer to doing the same in that city.
U.S. District Court Judge Eleanor Ross will hear Cooper v Raffensperger, 1:20cv-1312, on Tuesday, June 30, at 9:30 am. This is the ballot access case involving the health crisis. It should not be confused with Cowen v Raffensperger, which is not related to the health crisis.
Cooper v Raffensperger will decide whether the minor party and independent candidates in 2020 will get petitioning relief. That includes relief from the 7,500 petition requirement for president. That will affect the Green and Constitution Parties in particular, and possibly others.