Libertarian Party and Green Party File Petition to Appeal to U.S. Supreme Court in Ballot Access Case
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Spike Cohen Rally in Manhattan
Rally for Spike Cohen
Jeremy “Spike” Cohen, your next Vice President, is coming to meet supporters like you!
Come to One Liberty Plaza to hear your next Vice President, Jeremy “Spike” Cohen, speak with you about the things that are important in your life. From education to healthcare, from perpetual wars to overburdensome taxation, Spike and Jo Jorgensen have the answers that benefit you the most.
Spike looks forward to the opportunity to meet with you and discuss your concerns about life in New York going forward. If you want to hear a message about real change that is brought about by smaller government and more personal freedom, join us on September 26th and bring a friend!
Zuccotti Park
One Liberty Plaza
New York, NY 10006
Masks Required.
If you are not feeling well, please stay at home. In consideration of all participants’ safety and in following local guidelines, social distancing of six feet shall be maintained, and face masks and hand sanitizer will be available for attendees. Please join us in respecting the safety of fellow participants by voluntarily following best safety practices.
Speakers:
Spike Cohen
Larry Sharpe, former candidate for governor
Michael Madrid, candidate for US House NY-10
Jon Gunther, candidate for NY State Senate District 6
VICTORY: Libertarians Secure 50-State Ballot Access in 2020!
VICTORY!
Dr. Jo Jorgensen will be on every ballot in 2020!
Thank you to all of the supporters of our ballot access efforts! More than 60,000 signatures were safely gathered across the country during a pandemic and mass shutdowns. Libertarians, Democrats, Republicans, Greens, and Independents signed petitions to support more options on their ballots. Many states were very narrowly secured, with one state confirming Libertarian ballot access by only 7 signatures!
Celebrate with us! Jo Jorgensen is officially the first woman to be on every presidential ballot in the country TWICE! (1996 & 2020)
Every American will have the chance to vote for Jo in November, but they need to get to know her first.
Real change for real people.
Libertarian Party and Green Party Sue NYS Board of Elections to Fight Unfair Ballot Access Restrictions
Libertarian Party of New York
https://lpny.org/
Facebook: www.facebook.com/LPNYOfficial
Twitter: @LPNYOfficial
Instagram: @LPNYOfficial
News Release
Contact: W. Cody Anderson
LPNY Public Engagement Chair
canderson@lpny.org
Date: July 28, 2020
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Green Party and Libertarian Party File Joint Lawsuit Fighting Ballot Access Restrictions
Albany, New York, July 28, 2020 – The Green Party of New York (GPNY) and the Libertarian Party of New York (LPNY) filed a Federal lawsuit today in the Southern District of New York to invalidate restrictive ballot access provisions passed as a rider to the FY2021 State Budget.
Since 1936, minor political parties in New York have been required to obtain 50,000 votes for their gubernatorial candidate every four years in order to achieve and maintain ballot status. The GPNY achieved ballot status in 2010, and has since maintained it, while the LPNY achieved ballot status in 2018.
In an act of blatant political retribution against the Working Families Party (WFP), Governor Cuomo’s hand-picked “Public Campaign Finance Commission,” led by state Democratic Party Chair Jay Jacobs, recommended in December 2019 that not only should the requirement to achieve and maintain ballot access be increased from 50,000 votes to the greater of 130,000 votes or two percent of votes cast, but also that the qualifications should occur every two years, at the gubernatorial and presidential elections. At the same time, signature requirements for independent nominating petitions were recommended to be increased threefold. After the legislature declined to modify the recommendations, they automatically became law twenty days later.
Ultimately, the legislature’s abdication of its law-making powers to this executive commission caused a NYS Supreme Court judge in Western New York to declare the commission and all its actions unconstitutional. Bent on settling political scores, and under the cover of the COVID-19 crisis, Governor Cuomo and the legislature subsequently re-enacted the ballot access provisions in Part ZZZ of the FY2021 State Budget, leaving minor political parties in NYS facing an uncertain future.
The lawsuit filed today by attorneys James Ostrowski and Michael Kuzma on behalf of the GPNY and LPNY names NYS Board of Elections Co-Chairs Peter Kosinski and Douglas Kellner, Commissioner Andrew Spano, and Co-Executive Directors Todd Valentine and Robert Brehm as Defendants. The complaint alleges infringement upon First and Fourteenth Amendment rights to organize, identify, and vote for minor parties under the United States Constitution, and that the new voter and petitioning requirements are therefore unconstitutional.
“Whatever justification they may use for it, the choice by Gov. Cuomo and the Legislature to create new and onerous ballot-access thresholds this year is clearly designed to eliminate any threat of competition, preserve the state’s anemic and uncompetitive electoral system, and satisfy their corporate paymasters. The Green Party stands with all other affected political parties, as well as the voters of New York State, who deserve a robust and expansive democracy,” said Peter LaVenia, Co-Chair of the GPNY.
Anthony D’Orazio, Chair of the LPNY added, “Under cover of the COVID-19 pandemic and the already byzantine New York State budget process, the Governor and his advisors decided to destroy political competition in New York and preserve power for the two major parties. The Libertarian Party stands with all minor political parties of New York in fighting against such tyranny.”
For more information about the Green Party of New York, visit Facebook at www.facebook.com/GreenPartyNY, Twitter @GPNY, or their website, www.gpny.org.
For more information about the Libertarian Party of New York, visit Facebook at www.facebook.com/LPNYOfficial, Twitter @LPNYOfficial, Instagram @LPNYOfficial, or their website, www.lpny.org.
Contacts:
Gloria Mattera
Co-Chair
Green Party of New York
canderson@lpny.org
917-886-4538
W. Cody Anderson
Public Engagement Chair
Libertarian Party of New York
canderson@lpny.org
866-336-3120
ACTION NEEDED: Lead a Peaceful Libertarian Convoy In Your County
for release by the LNC on 07/14/2020
For too long, a third-party candidate has been silenced by the corrupt duopoly who has in turn, only protected itself. The Commission of Presidential Debates is refusing to allow third parties to debate without polling at 15% in polls they conduct. The caveat? They don’t ask about third party candidates in those polls.
The time to end that is now.
The first nationwide peaceful protest convoy called “Let Her Speak” is happening in 3 weeks and we are looking for Libertarian leaders to help host and promote convoys in as many counties in the nation as possible. This a COVID-safe demonstration to demand that libertarian presidential nominee Jo Jorgensen be allowed to speak in the primary debates.
At exactly 12:30 pm EST/ 9:30 am PST all the attendees throughout the nation will be going LIVE on social media to tell their friends and family about what we are doing and why. All the videos and photos will be compiled for a short film after the event.
Attendees will be decorating their cars, talking to the press, blasting music, passing out flyers and swag… coming together to be noticed and demand fair representation of Jo Jorgensen and third parties in the debates.
The main goal of this coordinated effort is to get Jo Jorgensen on the debate stage and there are many sub-goals and benefits, including:
- Spreading the word about Jo Jorgensen and the Libertarian Party to increase awareness to your local community.
- Peacefully gather in our cars to respect society’s concerns over COVID and display the Non-Aggression Principle.
- Show the country we are a lot bigger, more diverse, and more organized than they thought.
You will be given all the marketing and press materials needed. You’ll get guidance for planning, organizing, promotion, media outreach, and conducting the convoy. You’ll have opportunities for regular training and questions. All hosts and attendees will be able to share ideas and have rallies before the event.
Join me in spreading the word by signing up in the link below. We’re looking for regional leaders to speak at and lead these demonstrations, as well as enthusiastic participants.
Register To Host A Convoy HERE: Let-Her-Speak.org
Here is the video commercial for the event: https://youtu.be/2ZzAX9Uzrak
Here’s an interactive map that will show all the convoys happening around the country: https://j.mp/3emr0nu
And here is a flyer:
Victory and Ballot Access Updates
released by LNC on 06/30/2020
This month has seen several major decisions handed down by the Supreme Court that impact individual sovereignty, including the freedom from state discrimination based upon sexual orientation. This ruling was particularly celebratory as June is Pride Month.
For Libertarians, it is a foundational belief that all people must be equal in the eyes of the law. Until such a time that the state is drastically scaled back to its original functions, protections and provisions by the government must be applied equally.
Ballot Access Updates From June
On June 25, the Maine Libertarian Party asked U.S. District Court Judge Lance E. Walker to reconsider part of his ballot access ruling of June 11. Baines v Dunlap.
Last week, the Libertarian Party of Minnesota appealed its ballot access case, Minnesota v Choi, to the Eighth Circuit.
U.S. District Court Judge Matthew Leitman ruled on June 11th that Michigan had to give some ballot access relief to initiative proponents, either a reduction in signatures, or a later deadline. The state of Michigan has appealed this decision.
We were recently informed that U.S. District Court Judge John A. Gibney, Jr. will hear Libertarian Party of Virginia v Virginia State Board of Elections on Monday, July 13, at 9 a.m. This is the lawsuit over ballot access relief for minor party and independent petitioning candidates, in connection with the health crisis.
Our 2020 Presidential Nominee!
Jo Jorgensen is the 2020
Libertarian Nominee for President
for immediate release by the LNC on 05/26/2020
In a historic virtual presidential nominating convention, Libertarian Party delegates from all 50 states and the District of Columbia nominated Dr. Jo Jorgensen for President of the United States Saturday evening.
With this nomination, we have given Americans the opportunity to elect the first female president. More importantly, Jo’s run will give voters a chance to elect a candidate committed to freedom and liberty. Her campaign will give Americans relief from the grim options that they will face from the other candidates in November.
Jorgensen is a lecturer in psychology at Clemson University, and was also the party’s vice presidential candidate on the ticket with Harry Browne in 1996.
“I am glad that the voters will finally have a real choice because the non-choice between Trump and Biden is still an option between big government and more big government,” said Jorgensen. “The volunteers are already pouring in and it looks like it will be the most massive volunteer effort that the LP has ever seen. It is really growing from the grass roots.”
Additionally, the delegates nominated Spike Cohen to run alongside Jorgensen as Vice President. Cohen is the co-owner of Muddied Waters Media, the co-host of The Muddied Waters of Freedom, and host of his own show, My Fellow Americans. He has found tremendous joy and purpose in sharing freedom with everyone he possibly can.
“…the bottom line is that our platform is one of reducing and ending the harms that are done by government, and freeing us to work together, as we see fit, to solve the problems that we face.”
All Libertarians can make a difference now in helping this powerful and exciting ticket as they hit the ground running. We are still doing the hard work of defending our ballot access in all 50 states and DC. There are legal battles to be won, and significant marketing and media efforts to ensure that all Americans know that they now have a real choice in 2020.
Libertarians Nominate Jo Jorgensen for President!
by Dan Fishman on May 24, 2020
In a historic virtual presidential nominating convention Libertarian Party delegates from 50 states and the District of Columbia nominated Dr. Jo Jorgensen for President of the United States Saturday evening.
The party, which achieved 50-state ballot access in 2016, is working diligently to do so again in 2020. With the nomination, Americans will have an opportunity to elect the first female president. Her ground-breaking run will give voters a chance to elect a candidate committed to freedom and liberty. Jorgensen’s campaign will give Americans relief from the grim options that they will face from the other candidates in November.
The online convention was the first of its kind for any political party with nationwide ballot access. In an age of social distancing, the Libertarian Party has risen to the challenge, practicing personal responsibility and professionalism while conducting the business of the party in a timely and efficient manner.
“I am incredibly proud to serve as chair of the only national political party to hold their presidential nominating convention on time and under budget even in the face of a global pandemic,” said Nicholas Sarwark, LNC National Chair. “Our delegates from around the country were able to meet virtually to debate the merits of potential nominees. Real choices were made to come to the strongest candidate and consensus was built to have the party unified around the nominee. The Libertarian Party does politics differently and that different approach is exactly what Americans need right now.”
“I am glad that the voters will finally have a real choice because the non-choice between Trump and Biden is still an option between big government and more big government,” said Jorgensen. “The volunteers are already pouring in and it looks like it will be the most massive volunteer effort that the LP has ever seen. It is really growing from the grass roots.”
Jorgensen holds a doctorate in industrial/organizational psychology from Clemson University where she teaches. A native of Grayslake, Illinois, Jorgensen is a wife, mother and grandmother currently living in Greenville, South Carolina.
Dr Jorgensen’s website is joj2020.com
The Libertarian Party is set to resume business online Sunday at 10 a.m. CDT to determine the outcome of the vice-presidential nomination. The delegates will also determine the business for the convention’s second sitting, scheduled to reconvene July 8, 2020, in Orlando, Florida.
Liberty Activist Leslee Ann Petersen Put Together an Animal Crossing New Horizons Flag for Us!
Libertarian Party @LPNational · 2:33 PM · May 14, 2020
Liberty activist @lesleepetersen put together an #AnimalCrossingNewHorizions flag for us! You can use it with the code MO-F9GK-MJPV-09C6.
#AnimalCrossingDesigns
Legal Update from the Libertarian Party
for immediate release by the LNC on 05/12/2020
The Libertarian Party successfully won our lawsuit in Illinois that has guaranteed us ballot access in that state for 2020. Now that legal precedent is being used in other states as we face greater challenges than ever before.
It is nothing new for the Libertarian Party to be bringing legal challenges against dozens of states regarding laws used to restrict third parties from being placed on the ballot. However, in this altogether new world we find ourselves learning to live in now, the arguments for doing away with arbitrary requirements are perhaps stronger than ever. Outdated methods of proving support, such as collecting paper petitions from people on the street or by going door-to-door, are finally being seen as unnecessary, especially when a global pandemic makes them flat out impossible to achieve.
In the last few months, we have introduced LPTV — an online resource that allows us to keep Libertarians informed and connected. This last week we had a fantastic panel of ballot access experts, Special Counsel to the LNC, state chairs, and activists to discuss all of the current legal battles and appeals that we are fighting.
You can watch the entire episode here.
We have seen many examples during this crisis showing how government overreach and overregulation stifle innovation and prevent creative solutions to the problems we face. The same is true for burdensome and unnecessary ballot access hurdles that stifle competition and prevent real voter choice in America. That was of course their intended purpose, but now being viewed under the magnifying glass of the courts, they are not holding up to scrutiny.
We are fighting to remove or reduce currently impossible requirements for minor parties to achieve ballot access, not just during this pandemic, but for future elections.
Active Legal Battles
Libertarian Party of Minnesota
v.
Choi
Miller
v.
Doe (Texas)
Libertarian Party of Maine
v.
Dunlap
Arizona Libertarian Party
v.
Reagan
Cowen
v.
Raffensperger (Georgia)
Misbach
v.
Merrill (Connecticut)