People vote at Burk’s United Methodist Church in Hixson.Eleven candidates of the Green Party of Tennessee could be on the ballot under the party’s name in this fall’s general election in contests ranging from U.S. Senate to U.S. House to state House.
None involve Southeast Tennessee contests but, depending on a ruling by the U.S. 6th Circuit Court of Appeals, some state House incumbents who thought they had no opponent may suddenly face one.
Green Party members last month nominated 11 candidates in the wake of a February ruling by U.S. District Court Judge Joe Haynes, who ruled as unconstitutional sections in state law that have made it difficult for third-party candidates to appear on the ballot with their party affiliation. Democrats and Republicans long have been able to do so.
The Tennessee Green Party, which has a strong focus on environmental issues, filed the lawsuit along with the conservative Constitution Party. Officials with both said they are interested in providing voters alternatives to the two traditional parties.
But the state has appealed Haynes’ ruling to the U.S. 6th Circuit Court of Appeals with a hearing set for July 25. The state’s candidate-filing deadline was April 5.