Arkansas Wants to Know Intimate Details of Libertarian Party Activity

The Arkansas Libertarian Party is currently in federal court over the Arkansas law that says newly-qualifying parties must choose all their nominees (except President) an entire year before a general election. The case is Libertarian Party of Arkansas v Martin, e.d., 4:15cv-635.

On April 21, the state sent an interrogatory request to the party. The state wants to see a copy of all of these documents, for the period from December 31, 2010, to the present: (1) the party’ call to convention; (2) the membership list, applications, and receipts; (3) newsletters; (4) blog or internet postings; (4) agenda for any convention; (5) minutes for any convention; (6) agenda for any state party meeting; (7) minutes for any state party meeting; (8) party rules; (9) agenda for any committee meetings of the executive committee; (10) minutes for any committee meetings of the executive committee; (11) list of officers of the party; (12) correspondence with any members of the Party concerning access to the ballot in Arkansas; (13) correspondence with the national Libertarian Party, or any of its Officers, concerning access to the ballot in Arkansas.

When states have difficulty justifying restrictive ballot access, and they are in court, they frequent try to deflect the question away from the characteristics of the law, to trying to find fault with the minor party or independent candidate who filed the lawsuit.

Tennessee Legislature Adjourns Without Passing Any Ballot Access Bill

On April 22, the Tennessee legislature adjourned for the year. It did not pass SB 2528 or HB 2457 or any other bill on ballot access for newly-qualifying parties. Therefore, the pending Green-Constitution Party ballot access cases will start up again. The cases had been on hold while the court waited to see if the legislature would do anything. The cases challenge the petition to get a new party on the ballot; they also challenge the law on how a party remains on the ballot.