On May 8, the Michigan Secretary of State agreed to cut primary petitions this year by 50%. A few days ago the state had set 70%, but a U.S. District Court hearing seemed to show that the 70% would not survive. The state took the hint.
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On May 7, Arizona filed this brief in the U.S. Supreme Court in Arizona Libertarian Party v Hobbs, 19-757. This is the case over how registered members of a small ballot-qualified party that has been on the ballot for at least four years can get themselves on the ballot.
Ever since the new law was passed in 2015, no Libertarian has been able to get on the primary ballot for any congressional race, or any state race.
The Arizona brief does not mention the point that Arizona has extremely easy primary ballot access procedures for small qualified parties that have not been on the ballot for four years. This is why many Green Party candidates were able to qualify in 2016 and 2018, when the Green Party was on the ballot.
The Arizona brief claims there is no circuit split, but there is. The Third Circuit struck down a somewhat similar Pennsylvania law in 1985 in Consumer Party v Davis. The state claims the Libertarian Party doesn’t have any support in Arizona, but last time it was permitted to have a candidate for Governor, in 2014, it polled 3.81% for its nominee Barry Hess.
On May 7, TIME published this interview with Justin Amash about his presidential run.
On May 6, proponents of a Nevada redistricting initiative filed a federal lawsuit for ballot access relief. They seek the ability to obtain electronic signatures, and a later deadline. Fair Maps Nevada v Cegavske, 3:20cv-271. The case is assigned to U.S. District Court judge Miranda M. Du, an Obama appointee. Thanks to Steve Kamp for this news.
The Washington Secretary of State has waived the petition in lieu of filing fee for the primary, for candidates who can’t afford to pay the fee. See this story.
The new rule doesn’t have any impact on the presidential independent/minor party petition, which is 1,000 signatures due July 25.