Two Libertarian candidates are asking an Iowa judge to restore their names to the November 3 general election ballot after a paperwork dispute led to their removal.
Gubernatorial candidate Nicholas Gluba and his running mate, Jules Cutler, were removed from the ballot by the State Objection Panel in June. The panel determined Cutler had not submitted a required affidavit of candidacy for lieutenant governor.
During a court hearing Tuesday, state elections employee Dani Phillips testified that Cutler did not attempt to submit the affidavit when the campaign filed its paperwork. Cutler disputed that account, saying she presented the document but was told by an election official that it was not needed.
Gluba and Cutler are also challenging Secretary of State Paul Pate’s involvement in the decision. They argue Pate should have recused himself from the objection panel because the dispute involved the actions of an employee in his office.
The candidates are asking the court to reverse the panel’s decision and allow them to appear together on the November ballot.
The judge did not immediately issue a ruling and is expected to announce a decision at a later date.
Information for this report was provided by Iowa Public Radio.
