As noted earlier, Connecticut election officials maintain that Shawn Wilmoth can’t circulate a presidential primary petition in Connecticut, because he doesn’t live in Connecticut. Wilmoth is seeking a federal court order that would permit him to work.

Connecticut says he can’t be allowed to circulate for a Democratic presidential candidate in Connecticut because he is not a registered Democrat in Connecticut. Then Connecticut says that this prohibition is needed to protect the Connecticut Democratic Party from outsiders. But Wilmoth’s reply brief points out that he is a member of the Democratic Party, and there can’t be any threat to the Connecticut Democratic Party if Democrats from outside Connecticut circulate petitions for a Democratic candidate for President.

Wilmoth lives in Michigan, where voter registration forms don’t ask applicants to choose a party. But the Michigan Democratic Party has its own methods for individuals to join the party, and Wilmoth has in that way shown he is a Democrat. Here is Wilmoth’s Reply brief.