politics
Judge rules namesake challenger eligible for Alaska Senate primary ballot
An Alaska judge on Friday overturned a state elections office decision that had disqualified a Republican primary candidate who shares the same name as the incumbent senator. The ruling found no statutory basis for a "good faith" standard and said the division lacked authority to remove the candidate.
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Los Angeles TimesAudio version
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A state judge on Friday ruled that a Republican primary candidate who shares the same name as the incumbent U.S. senator can remain on the August primary ballot. Superior Court Judge Thomas Matthews issued the 32-page decision, finding that the Alaska Division of Elections had applied a "good faith" standard not contained in state law or its own regulations.
the state argued that the Constitution does not require placement of a sham candidate on the ballot. Attorneys for the challenger countered that the Constitution sets only three qualifications: age, citizenship and residency. The judge found that the division had not identified clear statutory or regulatory authority for removing the candidate and that its assertion the challenger seeks to confuse voters was not supported by a preponderance of evidence.
“In addition, the (Division of Elections)”
Director’s assertion that Mr. Sullivan seeks to confuse or misguide voters is not supported by a preponderance of evidence." — Superior Court Judge Thomas Matthews, June 27 (Washington Examiner)
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LeftNeutralRightCourt enforcing statutory limitsGood-faith test for eligibility
LeftNeutralRightStatutory limitsGood-faith test
CorroborationLimited · 10 sources
