Six sections of state election law pertaining to “new political parties” have been declared unconstitutional by federal judge Kristine Baker of Little Rock, who sided with the Libertarian Party of Arkansas in its 2019 lawsuit against Secretary of State John Thurston.
Baker had previously issued a temporary injunction in favor of the Libertarian Party, which allowed them to be on the 2022 ballot.
Sections of the law in question included:
* increased signature requirements for getting a candidate on the statewide ballot
* accelerated deadlines and requiring new political parties to qualify candidates with a party convention
Since the laws took effect, only two minor political parties — the Libertarian Party and the Green Party — have successfully petitioned for new party recognition.
Arkansas has not decided whether to appeal.
READ MORE about it at LPAR.org
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