Opinion ID: 880691
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Grounds Used By District Court To Grant Relief

Text: The District Court found that § 13-10-503(2), MCA, and the procedure for the inclusion of an independent candidate's name on the general election ballot is unconstitutional because it deprived the independent candidate of equal protection of the law afforded by the Fourteenth Amendment, and because it deprived the electorate of an effective right to exercise free speech and the right of association protected by the First Amendment. The District Court found that it was arbitrary and capricious to require independent candidates to file their petitions for office with the Election Administrator prior to the primary filing deadline. The District Court also found no rational basis or compelling state interest for requiring an independent candidate to secure signatures and to submit them in the form of a petition to the Election Administrator at least one week before the primary deadline when the same commitment was not required of major party candidates and when the independent candidate's name does not appear on the primary ballot. The court further said there was no rational basis for requiring independent candidates for offices other than President or Vice-President to submit petitions prior to the primary deadline when the same is not required of Presidential and Vice-Presidential candidates. The District Court further stated that § 13-10-503(2), MCA, infringed on Simonton's right to an effective and meaningful access to the general election ballot and served only to shield party candidates from independent competition in the general election.