Iowa Will List Eight Presidential Candidates

The Iowa Secretary of State’s web page shows that eight presidential candidates will appear on the November ballot. They are the nominees of the Democratic, Republican, Constitution, Green, Libertarian, Party for Socialism and Liberation, and Socialist Workers Parties. Also an independent candidate, Jerry Litzel, qualified. His vice-presidential running mate is Jim Litzel. Here is a fairly recent newspaper story about Jerry Litzel, although it does not mention that he is running for president.

The Party for Socialism and Liberation’s presidential nominee in Iowa this year is Gloria La Riva, the stand-in for Peta Lindsay.

Texas Asks Fifth Circuit to Stay the U.S. District Court Ruling that Struck Down Restrictions on Voter Registration Drives

On August 16, Texas asked the Fifth Circuit to issue a stay in Voting for America v Andrade, 12-40914. On August 17, the voting rights organizations who had filed the lawsuit filed a brief, asking the Fifth Circuit not to issue a stay. The U.S. District Court had struck down several Texas restrictions on voter registration drives. Among the laws struck down was one making it illegal for anyone who doesn’t live in Texas to help register voters in Texas. Here is the state’s brief. Here is the opposing brief from the voter registration organization.

The Fifth Circuit is one of the circuits that has never ruled on in-state residency requirements for petition circulators or registration drive workers. The Fifth Circuit includes Texas, Louisiana, and Mississippi. None of those three states has ever barred out-of-state petition circulators. Circuits that have struck down in-state residency requirements for petitioners include the Sixth, Seventh, Ninth, and Tenth Circuits. The Eighth Circuit has upheld them, at least in instances at which the plaintiffs couldn’t show real harm.

Only One Presidential Candidate Files in Utah Using the Independent Candidate Procedure

The filing deadline for independent presidential petitions has now passed in Utah. The only independent presidential candidate who filed is Gloria LaRiva, the stand-in presidential candidate for the Party for Socialism and Liberation. Utah permits a partisan label for candidates who use the independent procedure.

Qualified parties in Utah are the Democratic, Republican, Constitution, Green, Justice, Libertarian, and Americans Elect Parties.