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Ohio Libertarians Appeal Ballot Access Case to Supreme Court
By: Associated Press
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COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) – Ohio Libertarians are turning to the U.S. Supreme Court in a long-running dispute over the party’s access to the ballot.
The Libertarian Party of Ohio has had few successes in its case. The group sued Republican Secretary of State Jon Husted, alleging a member of his staff and others were part of a scheme to selectively enforce the state’s election law in violation of the Libertarians’ constitutional rights.
The party also claimed Ohio’s rules for minor political parties violate its equal protection rights by denying Libertarians the chance to participate in a primary election.
A three-judge panel of the federal appeals court rejected the party’s challenge Friday. The panel upheld a lower court’s decision, saying the law’s requirements didn’t severely burden the Libertarians.
A Husted spokesman calls the lawsuit “frivolous.”