As already noted, U.S. District Court Judge Lance E. Walker declined injunctive relief to the Maine Libertarian Party on June 11. The party asked for reconsideration. On June 30, the Judge expedited the briefing schedule for the reconsideration request. The state’s brief is due July 6, and the reply is due July 8. Baines v Dunlap, 1L19cv-509.
On June 30, Joseph Kishore, the Socialist Equality Party presidential candidate, filed a federal lawsuit against the California law that requires independent presidential candidates to submit 196,964 signatures in 105 days. Kishore v Newsom, c.d., 2:20cv-5859. Here is the Complaint.
The case is assigned to U.S. District Court Judge Dolly M. Gee, an Obama appointee.
On June 30, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo issued an executive order setting petition requirements for 2020 independent candidates and the nominees of unqualified parties. Statewide petitions will require 30,000 signatures, to be collected starting July 1 and ending July 30. That is considerably more difficult than any previous requirements in the history of the state. Between 1992 and 2018, the statewide petition was 15,000 signatures, with a collection period of six weeks.
The proclamation makes no provision for electronic signatures.
U.S. House petitions need 2,450 signatures. Thanks to Joe Burns for this news.
On June 29, U.S. District Court Judge B. Lynn Winmill refused to stay his own order in Reclaim Idaho v Little, 1:20cv-268. This is the case in which the court had granted ballot access relief for statewide Idaho initiatives. Here is the 4-page order denying the stay.
On June 30, the Judge noted that the state had not accepted his invitation to suggest relief, so he ordered that electronic signatures be permitted, and that the plaintiffs have another 48 days to collect signatures. Here is that order.
On June 25, U.S. District Court Judge Mary S. McElroy, a Trump appointee, granted some ballot access relief to Rhode Island primary candidates. The order says plaintiffs may e-mail petition blanks to their supporters and may have the supporters sign and return the petition to the candidate’s campaign electronically. Also, the campaigns may then submit the petitions to the town board of canvassers either in person, or in a physical “drop box”.
Here is the order in Acosta v Restrepo, 1:20cv-262.
The plaintiffs are running for State Senate and each need 100 signatures. The primary is September 8, the latest non-presidential primary of any state this year, except for Delaware, where the primary is September 15.
