KDSN RADIO News
Three Libertarians appealing to Iowa Supreme Court to get on ballot
A Polk County judge has upheld a state panel’s decision and ruled Libertarians running in three Iowa congressional districts did not qualify to have their names printed on the ballots for this November’s election.
The Libertarian Party held its caucuses and county conventions on the same night, January 15. Republicans from the first, third, and fourth congressional districts filed paperwork with the State Objection Panel, arguing that timing violated state law. The panel, on a 2-1 vote, agreed and kicked Libertarians Nicholas Gluba of Lone Tree, Marco Battaglia of Des Moines, and Charles Aldrich of Clarion off the congressional ballot.
A district court judge upheld that decision Saturday. The Iowa Libertarian Party plans to appeal to the Iowa Supreme Court. Ballots have to be printed soon. Under federal law, ballots are to be mailed on September 15th to any voter living overseas or members of the military who are serving out-of-state.
Late Friday, the Polk County District Court’s chief judge, who handled this case, advised election officials in Iowa’s second congressional district that they could start printing ballots. That’s because Libertarians did not nominate anyone to run in the second congressional district.
