Here is a news story about the July 28 decision that gave ballot access relief to New Hampshire minor party and independent candidates. The news story does not mention that New Hampshire does not allow stand-ins on presidential petitions. This is relevant because the Libertarian Party could not have been petitioning for president in New Hampshire until after its national convention in late May.
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.
On July 27, the New York Libertarian and Green Parties filed a federal lawsuit against the new restrictive definition of “political party” that New York created on April 2, 2020. The case is very similar to the Working Families Party lawsuit, and has been assigned to the same judge. Libertarian Party of New York v Cuomo, s.d., 1:20cv-5820.
Here is the Complaint.
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.
According to this story, Kanye West is circulating a petition to be on the ballot for president in New York, with the partisan label “Birthday Party.” Thanks to the commenters for this link. The requirement is 30,000 signatures, due July 30, Thursday.
