With financial help from the national Libertarian Party, the South Dakota Libertarian Party is about to begin its petition drive to regain its status as a qualified party, which it last held in 2006. Currently there are no qualified parties on the ballot in South Dakota except for the Democratic and Republican Parties. The Constitution Party had been on the ballot in 2008 and 2010, but did not poll as much as 2.5% for Governor in 2010, so went off the ballot.

When a party petitions in South Dakota in a presidential year, it is also automatically on the ballot for the following midterm year, so the 2012 Libertarian petition, if successful, will also give the party status in 2014.

The Green Party has never been ballot-qualified in South Dakota.

Idaho law provides for a presidential primary in May (simultaneous with the primary for other office). However, on July 16, the Republican State Central Committee voted to choose delegates to the national convention by caucus on March 6. Because the Democrats also usually choose delegates by caucus in Idaho, and because the state’s two ballot-qualified minor parties normally don’t use a presidential primary, this means the 2012 presidential primary in Idaho will be completely meaningless. Republicans will discuss with Democrats the idea of a bill early in the 2012 legisiative session to eliminate the presidential primary. Thanks to Josh Putnam of Frontloading HQ for this news.

On July 17, Jim Beam, who has been covering Louisiana politics and government for 40 years, wrote a column criticizing Governor Bobby Jindal for vetoing the bill that lets independent candidates use the label “independent”.