The political home of former Gov. Jesse Ventura was demoted after none of its statewide candidates received at least five percent of the vote. It was the second consecutive election with that result.
The secretary of state's office formally informed the party's leader in a letter Tuesday that it has been downgraded from major-party to minor-party status. That means its candidates must clear extra hurdles to get on ballots and won't have access to as much public campaign financing as before.
Going forward, Independence Party candidates must submit nominating signatures from voters to qualify for the ballot.
Other minor parties are: the Green Party, the Grassroots-Legalize Cannabis Party, the Legal Marijuana Now Party and the Libertarian Party.
Richard Winger of Ballot Access news wrote:
Minnesota requires parties to poll 5% to be on the ballot automatically. That is more severe than the average state. The median vote test in the 50 states for a party to be on the ballot with petitioning for its nominees is only 2%. Wisconsin only requires 1%, and Michigan is approximately one-half of 1%. Iowa is 2% and South Dakota is 2.5%. The Minnesota law requiring 5% is not rationale. Obviously the Independence Party is a bona-fide party and ought to be on the ballot automatically. The party was very unlucky last month; it got 4.9% for Secretary of State.
NYC Wins When Everyone Can Vote! Michael H. Drucker
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