Rust
SEYMOUR — John Rust has filed his petition for writ of certiorari with the U.S. Supreme Court.
The Seymour farmer is seeking review of the Indiana Supreme Court’s split March decision that denied him primary ballot access as a Republican U.S. Senate candidate.
Rust seeks to have the country’s highest court revisit Indiana’s harsh ballot access laws that keep him and over 81% of all Hoosiers off of primary ballots, according to a new release.
Indiana has the lowest voter turnout rate in the country, he said.
The 217 writ lists Indiana Secretary of State Diego Morals and Amanda Lowery, chairwoman of the Jackson County Republican Party as defendants.
Rust’s Petition focuses on how the Court’s test for assessing ballot access issues needs to be revisited and clarified. It further explains how Indiana’s ballot access laws are uniquely harsh and do not serve any legitimate state interest, but instead cater to political party bosses, disenfranchising party members and voters.
If the U.S. Supreme Court accepts the case, oral arguments would likely not be until early next year although Rust expects a decision on whether the Court will hear the case this fall.
Rust had this to say about his filing: “As I promised when the Indiana Supreme Court’s opinion was issued, I will continue to fight for ballot access for all constitutionally qualified Hoosiers. At a time when hard working Americans feel their voices are not heard and their votes do not matter, this is a battle that has to be fought. I will never stop fighting for Hoosiers and all Americans.”
Rust has published a book “Unsilencing the 81%” about his ballot access experience. It can be purchased on Amazon with all proceeds going to charity.
