Ballot Access News
South Dakota’s definition of “political party” is in section 12-1-3(12). It says, “‘Political party’, beginning with the 2014 general election and each general election thereafter, a party whose candidate for any statewide office received at least 2.5% of the total votes cast for that statewide office in either of the two previous general election cycles.”
The Libertarian Party did not poll as much as 2.5% of the vote for either of its statewide nominees in 2018. However, in 2016, it polled 5.63% for its slate of presidential elector candidates. Therefore, it should be considered on the ballot for 2020, because the law allows a party two elections after it passes the vote test, which it did in 2016.
UPDATE: an earlier version of the post said the Secretary of State hadn’t weighed in, but now the Secretary of State has e-mailed that she agrees and the Libertarian Party is on the 2020 ballot. Thanks to Lori Stacey for help with this.
South Dakota’s definition of “political party” is in section 12-1-3(12). It says, “‘Political party’, beginning with the 2014 general election and each general election thereafter, a party whose candidate for any statewide office received at least 2.5% of the total votes cast for that statewide office in either of the two previous general election cycles.”
The Libertarian Party did not poll as much as 2.5% of the vote for either of its statewide nominees in 2018. However, in 2016, it polled 5.63% for its slate of presidential elector candidates. Therefore, it should be considered on the ballot for 2020, because the law allows a party two elections after it passes the vote test, which it did in 2016.
UPDATE: an earlier version of the post said the Secretary of State hadn’t weighed in, but now the Secretary of State has e-mailed that she agrees and the Libertarian Party is on the 2020 ballot. Thanks to Lori Stacey for help with this.
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