There were 3 Libertarian presidential primaries on February 5.

Although the Arizona Libertarian Party was entitled to a taxpayer-funded primary, it didn’t use it, and instead held its own internet primary. The party’s webpage announces that George Phillies won, and that Wayne Allyn Root placed 2nd, and Barry Hess 3rd. However, so far there are no numbers. See http://azlp.org.

In California, with 96% of the precincts counted (although there are also many uncounted absentee and provisional ballots), the results are: Christine Smith 3,453; Steve Kubby 2,333; Wayne Allyn Root 1,896; Bob Jackson 1,211; Barry Hess 739; George Phillies 689; Michael Jingozian 652; Robert Milnes 599; Daniel Imperato 590; John Finan 584; Dave Hollist 562; Alden Link 442. It appears that write-in candidates outpolled anyone whose name was printed on the ballot. It is probable that Ron Paul won this primary, but since he didn’t file as a declared write-in candidate, no one will ever know for sure. When the official tally is released, we will at least know how many voters voted in this primary.

In Missouri, the vote reported so far is: Uncommitted 963, Wayne Allyn Root 372, Steve Kubby 197, George Phillies 164, Daniel Imperato 140, Michael Jingozian 79.

The 5th circuit will hear oral arguments in Mississippi Democratic Party v Barbour on March 6. This is the case in which the Democratic Party seeks to prevent non-members from voting in its primaries.

The party mostly won the case in U.S. District Court last year, except the U.S. District Court surprised everyone and said the Democrats can have their closed primary if they wish, but that the judge would also require that primary voters must show photo I.D. to vote at the polls (something that wasn’t even an issue in this lawsuit). The Democrats will be defending the part of that decision concerning closed primaries, but trying to overcome the part about photo I.D.

In a minority of states, there is no procedure for an unqualified party to circulate a petition to simply qualify the party. Instead, in these “bad” states, unqualified parties must list candidates on a petition, and get on the ballot that way.

This forces such unqualified parties to nominate “stand-in” presidential and vice-presidential candidates. Later, when these parties have their national conventions and choose their actual nominees, the stand-ins resign and the state allows the actual candidates to be substituted.

The Illinois Libertarian Party stand-ins are Debra Aaron for president, and Chris Bennett for vice-president. The Massachusetts Libertarian stand-ins are George Phillies for president and Chris Bennett for vice-president. The Pennsylvania Libertarian Party will choose its stand-ins at a state committee meeting on February 9.

The Pennsylvania Green Party stand-ins are John Zachmann for president and Sedinam Curry for vice-president. The Green Party is already ballot-qualified in Illinois and Massachusetts, so doesn’t need to worry about a petition.

The Constitution Party is using Jim Clymer as a stand-in for president, and Chuck Baldwin for vice-president, in various states.