Press Release
For IMMEDIATE Release
Last week the Libertarian Party of New Hampshire sent a letter to Secretary of State Bill Gardner requesting ballot access relief due to the spread of COVID-19. Thus far, the Secretary hasn’t responded to the letter.
Libertarian gubernatorial candidate Darryl W. Perry has sent a Petition for Redress of Grievances to Governor Chris Sununu, likewise seeking ballot access relief due to the spread of COVID-19.
The Petition for Redress cites the “explicit constitutional right to run for public office” as recognized by the New Hampshire federal District Court. The Petition also cites the medical consensus that individuals should remain six feet away from others, a guideline known as “social distancing,” and the risk to public health to collect petitions.
The Petition, as well as a lawsuit filed by the Libertarian & Green Parties of Illinois, states, “even if it were legal and/or physically feasible to gather signatures during the current public health emergency, it is unlikely that petition-circulators would be able to gather signatures because there are fewer people congregating in public places and fewer people are likely to open their doors to strangers who come knocking.”
LPNH Chair Brian Shields said, “with election deadlines fast approaching, and with so much fear and uncertainty concerning this virus, it is vital that the Secretary of State and the Governor act to protect our elections by waiving the petitioning requirement.”
Perry says, “in working with Party officials, we want to explore all of the non-court options available to us. We are hoping that the Governor or Secretary of State will decide to join Vermont in suspending candidate petition signature gathering requirements.”
The candidate filing period runs June 3 to June 12, with petitions for candidates who are neither Republican nor Democrat being due to City and Town Clerks for verification by August 5.
You can easily send your own message to Governor Sununu using the form at http://darrylwperry.com/petition.
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The Libertarian Party of New Hampshire is New Hampshire’s third-largest political party. For more general info, please visit LPNH.org or email info@lpnh.org.
In addition to contacting the Governor, your financial contribution to the campaign will be much appreciated and allow us to engage with voters.
Darryl W. Perry has spent most of his adult life as an advocate & activist for peace and liberty.
Darryl W. Perry is running for Governor of New Hampshire as a Libertarian on a platform of criminal justice reform, lower taxation, ballot access reform and voting rights.
Darryl served as Chair of the Libertarian Party of New Hampshire from September 2016 until April 2018.
