Concord, N.H., April 1, 2020 – The Libertarian Party of New Hampshire has sent a letter to New Hampshire Secretary of State Bill Gardner requesting ballot access relief due to the spread of COVID-19.
The Libertarian Party of New Hampshire has consistently been able to collect the 3,000 valid signatures it takes for unrecognized parties to achieve ballot access for their slate of candidates. Given the medical consensus that individuals should remain six feet away from others, a guideline known as “social distancing,” the Party feels it would be a risk to public health to collect petitions.
The LPNH executive committee said in its letter to Secretary Gardner, “The Libertarian Party of New Hampshire has been petitioning throughout the state since the beginning of January” in order to collect the petitions required, and as the risk of COVID-19 grew, “halted ballot access efforts effective immediately to protect voters, activists, and those who will eventually handle these petitions in municipal offices throughout the state.”
Of the request, 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.”
The Libertarian Party of New Hampshire is New Hampshire’s third-largest political party. For more general info, please visit LPNH.org or email [email protected].
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Libertarian Party of New Hampshire has to achieve over 4% in a statewide New Hampshire race on the 2020 ballot in order to achieve ballot access. Support out Governor or US Senate candidates at https://lpnh.org/2020-candidates/
Read the LPNH Petition Drive Letter to Secretary of State Gardner
You can donate to support LPNH’s Ballot Access Petition Drive here
