Arizona Secretary of State Katie Hobbs is urging the U.S. Supreme Court to reject a last-ditch effort by the Arizona Libertarian Party to make it easier to put its candidates on the general election ballot.
In new legal filings, attorneys for Hobbs acknowledge that, prior to 2015, a Libertarian contender for governor or other statewide office could qualify for the ballot with as few as 133 signatures.
Republicans pushed to change that, and under the 2015 law, the test was altered. Now it’s based on the number of people who could sign a candidate's nomination papers, which includes independents. Now, Libertarian contenders have to get about 3,000 supporters.
The attorney representing the Libertarian Party is arguing that the state can’t force candidates to depend on independents. He wants the law voided.
The justices have not indicated when they will consider it.
