Arizona Green Party sues to block 11 'sham candidates'

[IndianaGreen]

Arizona Green Party sues to block 11 'sham candidates'

Federal court asked to nullify state law allowing write-ins with just one vote

msnbc.com staff and news service reports
updated 41 minutes ago

TEMPE, Ariz. — The Arizona Green Party is asking a judge to kick more than half of the group's nominees off the November ballot.

The unusual request, filed in federal court Tuesday, also asks the court to declare as unconstitutional the state law that allowed the hopefuls to qualify as write-in candidates with as little as one vote.

The move follows the nomination of 11 candidates allegedly recruited by Republican operatives to siphon votes from Democratic candidates.

Unless the judge intervenes, Arizona voters will be able to vote for a tarot card reader to be state treasurer or a street performer to regulate utilities.

It's all thanks to a little-known provision in state law that allows Green Party candidates to get the party's nomination with just one write-in vote. They don't even have to collect petition signatures.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/39050703/

[Radical Activist]

1. They wouldn't have this problem if they had bothered to recruit their own candidates.

This is what happens when you give a ballot line to a group of people who have no concept of how to run a political party.

[uncle ray]

4. might as well have blank ballots them.

[Bryn]

2. This is good

Maybe Arizona Green Party learned a lesson and becomes stronger. Suing is right thing to do.

Here in Arkansas the Green Party is strong and the candidates are all qualified/professional like a mayor, attorneys, professors, etc. and require over 10,000 petition signatures from registered voters. If they manage to get 3% of votes they won't require signatures again.

[thelordofhell]

3. The problem is the open primary in this state

If you didn't choose a party affiliation when you registered to vote, you could ask for a republican, Democratic, or Green Party ballot to vote. The Libertarians already sued to make their ballot not be sabotaged like the Green Party has.

[Qutzupalotl]

5. Good.

I heard that Republican who recruited the homeless candidates on NPR yesterday: "The dirty tricks are coming from the DEMOCRAT party." Fuck him.

[alittlelark]

6. I hope this story get wide readership....

It is incredibly devious and backhanded.

[chrisa]

7. Is this illegal?

If it isn't, it should be.

*edit* - I mean paying operatives to run for the opposing party should be illegal.