Green, Constitution parties join LPO's suit challenging constitutionality of Ohio's new ballot-access law

Unsurprisingly, the Libertarian Party of Ohio's (LPO) disdain for Ohio's new ballot-access law is shared by the Ohio Green Party and the Ohio Constitution Party, both of which are attempting to join the LPO's suit challenging the constitutionality of the new law. As CRL&P has noted, the lawsuit alleges the law prevents minor parties from holding party primaries, and that it requires minor party candidates to obtain 28,000 signatures--and a minimum of 500 signatures from 8 of Ohio's 16 congressional districts--in order to appear on next year's ballot. Further, beginning in 2015, the law will increase that requirement to 56,000 signatures.

Republicans claim that the law simply responds to the void left after the U.S. Third Circuit Court of Appeals' 2006 decision in Libertarian Party of Ohio v. Blackwell in which the court invalidated the states prior ballot-access law. However, critics contend that the new restrictions are aimed at aiding  Gov. John Kasich's reelection campaign.

In a recent poll, Gov. Kasich leads Democratic challenger Ed Fizgerald 44 to 37 percent.

CRL&P related posts:

• Effect of Ohio's new ballot access law on 2014 election uncertain
• Federal judge suspends Ohio's restriction on petition circulators
• Ohio governor signs controversial ballot access bill, opponents to file lawsuit
• Ohio legislature to vote on controversial ballot access bill this week
• Ohio Senate passes bill imposing restrictions on third party ballot access