U.S. District Court Judge in Illinois Libertarian Party Case Again Fails to Keep Her Promise to Issue Opinion

Posted on by February 11, 2016
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In 2012, the Libertarian Party of Illinois filed a federal lawsuit against the state law that tells newly-qualifying parties (but not old parties) that they must run a full slate of candidates. There is still no decision from the U.S. District Court. On the morning of February 9, 2016, Judge Andrea R. Wood said she would have the opinion out in the next 24 hours, but it has now been more than 48 hours and there is no decision. In the past she has made similar promises and failed to keep them.

Arizona House Passes Bill Eliminating Future Presidential Primaries

Posted on by February 11, 2016
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On February 10, the Arizona House passed HB 2567, which eliminates the presidential primary for years after 2016. The vote was 37-22. Here is the summary of what the bill does. It also requires the national chairperson of each qualified party to inform the Secretary of State by September 1 of the identity of that party’s presidential and vice-presidential nominees. Not every qualified party that nominates presidential candidates actually has a national chairman; there are many one-state political parties in the United States that participate in the presidential election in a single state.

Maine Secretary of State Will Respond to Libertarian Party Ballot Access Lawsuit by February 17

Posted on by February 11, 2016
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The Maine Secretary of State will file a response in U.S. District Court by February 17, in Libertarian Party of Maine v Dunlap, 2:16cv-2. The Libertarian Party is challenging the decision by the Maine Secretary of State that the party is not ballot-qualified. The lawsuit also challenges the December 1 deadline for groups to qualify as parties. The party is seeking injunctive relief, so the case will move fast.

On February 10, the party’s request to file a brief in excess of the page limit was granted.