Iowa judge orders state to delay certifying election ballots until libertarian challenges decided

An Iowa judge ordered the state to delay certifying ballots for the November election until a decision is made on whether the Libertarian Party candidates can appear .

Polk County District Court Judge Michael Huppert granted a temporary injunction to Libertarian Party candidates after they disputed a ruling removing them from the ballot for allegedly not carrying out proper procedures to get on. Huppert ruled that the Libertarian Party's disputation had a high likelihood of succeeding, so the certification of ballots, due to happen on Tuesday, should be postponed until the challenge is heard.

"Based upon the court’s preliminary, albeit hasty, review of the record made, it is satisfied that there is a likelihood that the petitioners may prevail on the merits if afforded an opportunity for a full-blown presentation of the evidence and legal authorities," he wrote in an order obtained by the Gazette.

A spokeswoman for the Iowa Secretary of State's Office confirmed to the outlet that the certification process was halted to wait for the "expedited" judicial review.

The Libertarian Party of Iowa celebrated the decision in a statement obtained by the outlet. Three of its candidates filed the challenge.

“This is a crucial step forward in our fight for electoral justice,” Iowa Libertarian Party Chairwoman Jules Cutler, a lawyer representing two of the candidates in the challenge, said. “We are confident that, upon full review, our candidates will be reinstated, allowing Iowans to have a true choice at the ballot box this November.”

Though the inclusion of the Libertarian Party in the presidential race is unlikely to have any effect in the red state, it could prove decisive in two House races. The districts represented by Reps. Mariannette Miller-Meeks (R-IA) and Zach Nunn (R-IA) are set to be close.

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The Democratic Party won the 3rd District, now occupied by Nunn, in 2020 by less than 7,000 votes. The Libertarian candidate received over 15,000 votes.

Similar to the Green Party for the Democratic Party, the Libertarian Party often serves as a spoiler for the GOP. The Libertarians in Iowa removed from the ballot were done so after challenges from Republicans.