Green Party presidential candidate will be allowed on Arizona ballot

PHOENIX — Arizona Green Party members will be able to vote for their chosen presidential candidate this fall, thanks to a deal made this week in federal court.

Arizona Secretary of State Michele Reagan came together with the state’s Green Party to ask a judge to sign a court order that would allow the party’s nominee Jill Stein onto the ballot, despite the party missing a June 1 filing deadline.

Previously, the Secretary of State’s Office had said that after consulting the state’s Attorney General’s Office that neither could find a legal way to allow Stein on the ballot after her party failed to file its Electoral College delegate nomination papers.

We demand choice in everything we do. Why then are we forced between two parties with the same corporate sponsors? That is not democracy. 🗳

— Dr. Jill Stein (@DrJillStein) July 14, 2016

Despite this, the Green Party told the Arizona Capitol Times earlier this month about a similar case in 1996 when a filing delay was excused through litigation.

The Secretary of State’s Office at the time agreed that the case could act as a “road map” for the party’s efforts to legally get on the ballot.

The Green Party is one of four political parties recognized in Arizona.

Stein will be joining Democrat Hillary Clinton, Republican Donald Trump and Libertarian Gary Johnson on November’s ballot.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.