On July 18, the Montana Secretary of State asked the Montana Supreme Court to put the Green Party back on the November ballot. The Secretary of State had originally determined that the Green Party had enough valid signatures, in March. In June the state held a primary for the Green Party. Then, on July 9, a state trial court removed the party from the ballot, on the basis that the Democratic Party’s challenge to the petition validity should be upheld. The trial over the validity of the signatures had been held in April, and the judge waited almost three months before ruling. See this story.
Ballot Access News
Edited By Richard Winger
The United Coalition with the Green Party.
See one leader of the California Green Party vote in the United Coalition California on Earth Day, April 22nd, 2018 on paper ballots under pure proportional representation (PPR).
The Green leader, Libertarian State Exec, Constitution State Chair and One Party volunteer working for unbiased equal treatment for all under PPR.
The United Coalition of Candidates (UCC)
http://www.international-parliament.org/ucc.html
Click here (https://youtu.be/DgXaC_Uzm6s) to see the Earth Day event video.
The Unity Platform
“Non-Aggression Principle (NAP)”
“Term Limits”
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So far, the SOS has only filed a notice of appeal, but has requested expedited briefing.
I assume the SOS will argue that they and the county election officials fulfilled their ministerial duty in originally approving the petition. Any injury is due to the neglect of the Democratic Party in failing to challenge the petitions at the time they were presented to county election officials (there is a challenge procedure set out in state law). I don’t know if the district court considered the standing of the plaintiffs whose injury was that they would have to spend more money educating voters to not vote for their candidates.
The original trial was in April, but the Green Party tried to move the case to federal court on April 30, and then a new judge was assigned to the case. Additional testimony was heard in the latter part of May, including evidence that was developed after the April hearing. The primary was in early June, so the judge may have held off – because the ballots were already printed, and any order likely would have been stayed. So be fair, the judge took about a 1-1/2 months.
The Green Party probably does not have the financial resources to challenge the statute, which would probably be better off in federal court. If they do challenge, they will need someone to donate their time.
The Montana Constitution Party is also beginning a petition drive. We did not start earlier, because of the March deadline. We support the Green Party in their ballot access efforts. I have reached out to the MT Green Party, and spoken to Steve Kelly, as he was the only one I was able to reach. We are more than willing to work with them and any other Montana political party to address ballot qualification and access. We are also in communication with the MT SOS.
J.R.Myers, CPMT Chairman
CP Western States Chairman
Emergency Election Signatures Supreme Court now needed in every State/DC/colony ???
The Libertarian One campaign has a potential volunteer attorney who has the means to travel to Montana.
If anyone has specific needs in Montana let me know so I can run it by our volunteer who supports environmental causes.