On August 12, Liberty Union, a ballot-qualified party that exists only in Vermont, nominated Stewart Alexander for President. He is also the Socialist Party presidential nominee as well.
However, it turns out that the 2009 law that changed independent candidate petition deadlines from September to June also changed the deadlines for qualified minor parties to submit their nominees for the November ballot. Therefore, the Secretary of State will refuse to print the Liberty Union nominees on the November ballot, unless the party wins a lawsuit.
As is well known, the Democratic and Republican Parties are not required to notify any state of their nominees until 60 days before the general election, so the 2009 Vermont law clearly violates the U.S. Supreme Court precedent Anderson v Celebrezze, which outlaws discrimination in timing in presidential elections.
It would be nice if Vermont just followed the supreme court’s ruling and just save everyone time and money and put them on the ballot. It avoids a whole crap load of headaches for everyone involved.
This was a smart choice for the Liberty Union folk, even though I disagree with $ociali$t policies wholeheartedly.
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I agree with #1 and #2. Stewart Alexander is a good fit for the Liberty Union and Vermont’s Secretary of State should follow the supreme court’s ruling.