AR Times: “Judge Kristine Baker has permanently enjoined a 2019 law that made it harder for third parties to qualify for the general election ballot. The 8th Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals had already upheld a preliminary injunction in the case, but Secretary of State John Thurston continued to argue for the statute. The judge rejected the state’s argument in an 83-page order issued Friday, accompanied by the permanent injunction.
She said she ruled for the plaintiffs because of the combined effect of an early deadline for petition gathering by new political parties; a 90-day petitioning period; a requirement to gather petitions signed by three percent of voters in the last election for governor (about 26,000) and a requirement that new party candidates declare before major party candidates were selected. She said the state provided no compelling interest in setting these limits.”