Recent court rulings have given candidates belonging to the Green and Constitution parties a spot on Tennessee's election ballots. But libertarians are still looking for similar luck.
The Libertarian Party of Tennessee recently filed a suit seeking ballot access, according to the Associated Press. Attorneys representing the party argued Tennessee's ballot-access rules, crafted half a century ago, create an unnecessarily tough standard. That infringes on the party's rights of free speech and association, the lawsuit contended.
Rulings issued by federal judge William Haynes ordered the state to put Green and Constitution party candidates on state ballots this fall. But libertarians are still looking for their chance. Party officials hope a ruling will come in time to place their gubernatorial candidate, Daniel Lewis, on the November ballot.
The ultimate outcome of the third-party fight is unclear. Judge Haynes' rulings allow Green and Constitution candidates to remain on the ballot through 2015, but state officials are fighting his decision. In Nashville, there seems to be little enthusiasm among elected officials to change the law to make it easier for third-party candidates to get on the ballot.