[Lnc-business] FW: Ballot Access question - Maryland

[Scott L.]

This might be the first "test" for the not-yet-formed Ballot Access
Committee.  I just sent an e-mail this morning to Richard Winger.  In his
usual very effective manner, he replied within a couple of hours.

 

 

 

"Richard:

 

The March issue of LP News, page 13,  says that the retention requirement in
Maryland is 1% for the top of the ticket.


It also says that Gary Johnson got 1.1% of the vote in 2012, but that 2014
was the first time the Libertarian Party ever retained ballot access in
Maryland .

 

Am I missing something?  Shouldn't the LP have gotten ballot access for Gary
Johnson's showing in 2012?

 

  Scott Lieberman"

 

 

 

"From: Richard Winger [mailto:richardwinger at yahoo.com] 
Sent: Monday, March 16, 2015 12:49 PM
To: Scott L.
Subject: Re: Ballot Access question - Maryland

 

The law is sort of crazy.  When one passes the vote test, one only gets one
more election.  But when one does the petition, that gets the next 2
elections.  So because our last Md petition was in 2011, that gave us 2012
and 2014.  So polling over 1% for Gary Johnson didn't actually give us
anything we didn't already have. The law is not sensible.  If a petition
gets 2 elections, then passing the vote test also ought to give 2 elections.

 

   Richard Winger"

 

 

 

My guess is that this issue is "below the radar" for state legislators.  So,
it is probably possible to come up with a lobbying plan that has a
reasonable chance of success to get Maryland legislators to change the law
to what Mr. Winger suggests above. 

 

If the legislators are totally immune to making this change, we could
instead them to remove president, increase the percentage to 2%, and ask
them to add Comptroller and Atty. General to Governor/Lt. Gov (1).  IMO,
having to get 2% for Gov, Comptroller, or Atty. General every 4 years is a
lot easier than having to get 1% for Governor AND then 2 years later having
to get 1% for President, to maintain semi-permanent ballot access.

 

I think this would make a good "first project" for the LP's Ballot Access
Committee, if we form one.


   Scott Lieberman

 

 

1.  The Gov and Lt. Gov. nominees run as a team in Maryland.

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