In a key legal development for the Libertarian Party of Iowa (LPIA), the Iowa District Court for Polk County has granted an emergency temporary injunction that prevents the Iowa Secretary of State’s Office from certifying the 2024 general election ballots. This ruling comes in response to appeals filed by Libertarian congressional candidates Nicholas Gluba (1st District), Charles Aldrich (4th District), and Marco Battaglia (3rd District), challenging their removal from the ballot by the State Objections Panel.
The court’s decision to grant the temporary injunction underscores the serious concerns raised by the LPIA regarding the fairness and legality of the State Objections Panel’s ruling. The injunction halts the certification process until the court can fully review the merits of the case and make a final determination on the inclusion of the Libertarian candidates on the ballot.
“This is a crucial step forward in our fight for electoral justice,” said Jules Cutler, Chair of the Libertarian Party of Iowa, and legal counsel representing the candidates. “The court’s ruling recognizes that there are legitimate questions about the legality of the State Objections Panel’s decision. 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.”
The appeals, which have been consolidated due to the similar legal issues involved, center on procedural objections related to the timing of the LPIA’s caucuses and county conventions. The court noted that the petitioners demonstrated a likelihood of success on the merits of their case, which justifies the temporary halt in the certification of the ballots.
Marco Battaglia, who has retained his own attorney and filed a separate appeal, is also included in the injunction due to the shared legal grounds in the cases of all three candidates.
