The Democratic National Committee (DNC) is seeking to remove Green Party presidential candidate Jill Stein from the ballot in Wisconsin, a key swing state, ahead of the November 2024 election.

According to a report by The Federalist, the DNC has filed a petition with the Wisconsin Supreme Court to block Stein and her running mate, Butch Ware, from appearing on the state's ballot.

The Democrats argue that the Green Party ticket does not meet the statutory requirements for ballot access in Wisconsin. The petition cites state law requiring presidential electors to be affiliated with parties that have representation in state offices, which the Green Party currently lacks.

This move comes as part of a broader effort by Democrats to limit third-party competition in battleground states for the upcoming presidential election.

Democrats Cite Statutory Requirements For Ballot Access

The DNC's petition to the Wisconsin Supreme Court contends that the Green Party fails to meet the state's criteria for nominating presidential electors.

Wisconsin law stipulates that electors must be candidates for the state senate and assembly nominated by each political party in the primary, state officers of each party, or holdover state senators from each party.

Doug Strange, the DNC's deputy Operations director in Wisconsin, is named as the petitioner in the legal action against the Wisconsin Elections Commission and the Wisconsin Green Party. The Democrats argue that the Green Party has no affiliated individuals in these categories eligible to nominate presidential electors.

The Wisconsin Supreme Court has agreed to take up the case, with a ruling expected as soon as Monday, according to legal experts cited in the report. This expedited timeline bypasses the usual process of first filing in lower courts.

Green Party And Advocates Criticize Democratic Efforts

Critics of the DNC's actions, including the Green Party and some legal experts, characterize the petition as an attempt to stifle political competition and limit voter choice in a crucial swing state.

Rick Esenberg, president and general counsel of the Wisconsin Institute for Law and Liberty (WILL), condemned the move as a "last-ditch effort" to disenfranchise voters.

Esenberg stated:

This is a last-ditch effort by a political party operative to disenfranchise the votes of tens of thousands of Wisconsinites. A last-minute ruling, not based in law, from the Wisconsin Supreme Court in favor of the DNC would severely damage the faith and trust every day Wisconsinites put in their elections.

WILL plans to file a brief with the court arguing that the DNC's interpretation of the statute would effectively prevent any small or new party from accessing the presidential ballot in Wisconsin.

Historical Context And Broader Implications

This is not the first time the Democratic Party has challenged Green Party ballot access in Wisconsin. In 2020, a similar dispute arose over the party's vice-presidential candidate Angela Walker's change of address during the signature collection period. That challenge ultimately resulted in the Green Party being kept off the Wisconsin ballot.

The current effort to exclude the Green Party from the ballot is part of a larger strategy by Democrats to limit third-party competition in swing states. Similar challenges have been mounted against other candidates, including leftist Cornel West and independent Robert F. Kennedy Jr., in various battleground states.

Democrats have expressed concern that third-party candidates could siphon votes away from their nominees in close elections. In 2016, Jill Stein received over 31,000 votes in Wisconsin, where Donald Trump's margin of victory over Hillary Clinton was approximately 21,000 votes.

Court Ruling Could Reshape Ballot Access

The outcome of this legal challenge could have significant implications for the 2024 presidential election. Wisconsin remains a key battleground state, and even a small number of votes could potentially tip the balance in a close race.

Critics argue that these efforts to limit ballot access run counter to the Democratic Party's public stance as defenders of democracy and voter choice. The tension between strategic electoral considerations and principles of open democratic participation continues to be a point of contention in American politics.

As the legal battle unfolds, both major parties are keenly aware of the potential impact of third-party candidates on the electoral landscape. The Wisconsin Supreme Court's decision will likely set a precedent for similar challenges in other swing states as the nation approaches the 2024 presidential election.