Virginia – US Court rejects Libertarian Party ballot challenge

A federal appeals court has reject an appeal by the Libertarian Party of Virginia that challenged the state’s policy of listing candidates from major parties first on ballots. According to Virginia law, the candidates that are listed first on ballots are those who belong to parties that received at least ten percent of the vote for statewide office in two previous general elections. Currently, that policy applies to only the Republican and Democratic parties. The Libertarian Party argued that the policy gives an unfair advantage to major parties and violates the Constitution. On Monday, the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals said that the policy “imposes little burden” on the minor party candidates’ constitutional rights.