On July 28, U.S. District Court Judge Joseph LaPlante, a Bush Jr. appointee, issued an order in Libertarian Party of New Hampshire v Gardner, 1:20cv-688. Due to the health crisis, he cut the number of signatures to 65% of the normal 3,000 (for statewide office). The 2020 requirement is thus 1,950. Here is the 51-page opinion.

This is the first ballot access lawsuit ever won by a minor party or independent candidate in New Hampshire. New Hampshire had been the only state in which a ballot access lawsuit filed by a minor party or independent candidate had never won. This sentence relates to lawsuits over the constitutionality of the state law, or the validity of the state law under the federal Voting Rights Act.

Here is the list of presidential candidates who will be on the ballot in New Jersey (not including the Democratic and Republican nominees): the nominees of the Alliance, Constitution, Green, Libertarian, Socialism & Liberation, and Unity Parties, and independent Kanye West. New Jersey requires 800 signatures, due on July 27. The state has already checked these petitions. Thanks to Thomas Jones for this news.

On July 24, a lawsuit was filed to overturn Wyoming’s 300-foot exclusion zone for petitioners at polling places. The lawsuit concerns other types of First Amendment activity also. The U.S. Supreme Court has upheld a 100-foot exclusion, but generally courts have struck down zones that were bigger than that. Frank v Buchanan, Secretary of State, 2:20cv-138. Here is the complaint.