Vermont requires independent candidates, and the nominees of unqualified parties, to submit 1,000 signatures (for statewide office) by June 14. This year, the Justice Party collected over 1,300 signatures to place its presidential nominee, Rocky Anderson, on the November ballot. However, because Vermont requires petitioning groups to first collect the signtures, then submit them to town clerks, then collect them again and take them to the Secretary of State, not all signatures were available by the deadline for submission. Here is the complaint.

On June 27, Rocky Anderson filed a lawsuit. He points out that candidates seeking a place on a presidential primary ballot do not follow this cumbersome procedure, but instead file directly with the Secretary of State. The lawsuit is Anderson v State of Vermont, filed in Superior Court in Montpelier. The Court will hold a hearing within the next two weeks.