(Radio Iowa) – The Iowa Supreme Court has reversed a district court ruling — and U.S. Senate candidate Abby Finkenauer’s name will be listed on the June Primary ballot. The Iowa Supreme Court has rejected the challenge two Republicans filed to three signatures on Finkenauer’s nominating petitions. The proper date was not listed on the signature lines. If the Supreme Court had ruled the three signatures were invalid, Finkenauer would not have had enough signatures to qualify for the Primary ballot.

In its ruling, the Supreme Court said just last year the legislature passed a law outlining the specific reasons for rejecting signatures on nominating petitions, but that law did not address missing or incorrect dates on the subject line.

Election officials must mail absentee ballots to overseas voters by April 23rd. The secretary of state’s office indicated Monday at 5 p.m. was the deadline for printing the ballots. If the Supreme Court’s decision had been delayed, the district court judge’s ruling would have prevented Finkenauer’s name from being listed on ballots. The Iowa Supreme Court justices just heard arguments from attorneys representing the two sides in this case on Wednesday.

U.S. Senate candidate Abby Finkenauer says today’s (Friday’s) unanimous decision from the Iowa Supreme Court shows she met every requirement to be on the Democratic Primary ballot. Finkenauer says the Iowa Supreme Court’s decision is a victory over an attack “orchestrated by Washington Republicans and allies of Senator Grassley.” Finkenauer is one of three Democrats vying for a spot on the General Election ballot to challenge Grassley’s bid for reelection.

Finkenauer says Washington elites tried to undermine the democratic process to save Grassley from having to face her in November. Alan Ostergren is the attorney who represented Republicans challenging three signatures on Finkenauer’s nominating petition. He says the only reason the issues were litigated is because Finkenauer barely turned in enough signatures.

Ostergren says the Iowa legislature needs to pass a law making it clear what must be on a nominating petition and what the consequences are for failing to have that information present.