<div dir="ltr"><div>From Oliver Hall re: PA ballot access.</div><br><div class="gmail_quote">---------- Forwarded message ----------<br>From: <b class="gmail_sendername">William Redpath</b> <span dir="ltr"><<a href="mailto:wredpath@biakelsey.com">wredpath@biakelsey.com</a>></span><br>Date: Tue, Jul 28, 2015 at 11:00 AM<br>Subject: Fw: CPPA v. Aichele: WE WIN!<br>To: "<a href="mailto:wredpath2@gmail.com">wredpath2@gmail.com</a>"<br><br><br>
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<div dir="ltr"><font face="Calibri, sans-serif" color="#000000" style="font-size:11pt"><b>From:</b> <a href="mailto:oliverhall@competitivedemocracy.org" target="_blank">oliverhall@competitivedemocracy.org</a> <<a href="mailto:oliverhall@competitivedemocracy.org" target="_blank">oliverhall@competitivedemocracy.org</a>><br>
<b>Sent:</b> Tuesday, July 28, 2015 10:10 AM<br>
<b>To:</b> <a href="mailto:oliverhall@competitivedemocracy.org" target="_blank">oliverhall@competitivedemocracy.org</a><br>
<b>Subject:</b> Re: CPPA v. Aichele: WE WIN!</font>
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<div>Folks:</div>
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<div>A couple of updates and comments to follow up on Friday’s big win.</div>
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<div>First, I’m going to be on WESA 90.5’s Essential Pittsburgh today at noon: <a title="http://wesa.fm/programs/905-wesas-essential-pittsburgh" href="http://wesa.fm/programs/905-wesas-essential-pittsburgh" target="_blank">
http://wesa.fm/programs/905-wesas-essential-pittsburgh</a>; and on WHYY Philadelphia’s Radio Times Thursday at 10 AM:
<a title="http://whyy.org/cms/radiotimes/" href="http://whyy.org/cms/radiotimes/" target="_blank">
http://whyy.org/cms/radiotimes/</a>. <br>
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<div>I’m going to press for Sen. Folmer’s Voter Choice Act, as well as another easy legislative fix that would completely eliminate the system of private parties challenging nomination papers under Section 2937. In brief, the Secretary of State should be required
to validate nomination papers, instead of private parties. This could be accomplished by changing only one word of existing law. I’m also going to call for the law firms holding the judgments against Carl Romanelli and Ralph Nader to relinquish any claim they
have against these candidates.</div>
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<div>Second, did everyone see all the good press we already got on this?</div>
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<li>Philadelphia Inquirer: <a title="http://www.philly.com/philly/news/318520501.html" href="http://www.philly.com/philly/news/318520501.html" target="_blank">
http://www.philly.com/philly/news/318520501.html</a> </li><li>Pittsburgh Post-Gazette: <a title="http://www.post-gazette.com/news/politics-state/2015/07/24/Federal-judge-rules-Pa-third-party-candidate-requirements-unconstitutional/stories/201507240230" href="http://www.post-gazette.com/news/politics-state/2015/07/24/Federal-judge-rules-Pa-third-party-candidate-requirements-unconstitutional/stories/201507240230" target="_blank">
http://www.post-gazette.com/news/politics-state/2015/07/24/Federal-judge-rules-Pa-third-party-candidate-requirements-unconstitutional/stories/201507240230</a>
</li><li>AP (this ran nationally): <a title="http://www.sfgate.com/news/article/Minor-parties-get-court-win-in-ballot-access-6403867.php" href="http://www.sfgate.com/news/article/Minor-parties-get-court-win-in-ballot-access-6403867.php" target="_blank">
http://www.sfgate.com/news/article/Minor-parties-get-court-win-in-ballot-access-6403867.php</a>
</li><li>WHYY (Philly) (this includes a radio spot featuring GPPA’s Carl Romanelli): <a title="http://www.newsworks.org/index.php/local/off-mic/84577-court-pa-unfair-to-3rd-parties" href="http://www.newsworks.org/index.php/local/off-mic/84577-court-pa-unfair-to-3rd-parties" target="_blank">
http://www.newsworks.org/index.php/local/off-mic/84577-court-pa-unfair-to-3rd-parties</a></li></ul>
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<div><font size="3" face="Times New Roman">Finally, regarding Judge Stengel’s decision itself, several questions have been raised about what it means and what happens next. Here is my reading. Section 2911(b) (imposing the 2% signature requirement) and Section
2937 (authorizing private party nomination paper challenges and the imposition of costs against defending candidates) are unconstitutional as applied to minor party and independent candidates (or at least those who are plaintiffs or in privity with the plaintiffs
in this case). That means these provisions cannot be enforced against CPPA, GPPA and LPPA, or any of their candidates.
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<div><font size="3" face="Times New Roman">Judge Stengel did note that he was not declaring the 2% signature requirement, by itself, unconstitutional. Presumably, therefore, Pennsylvania could enact a new 2% signature requirement, and that probably would be
upheld, as it was before in <em>Rogers v. Corbett</em>, 468 F. 3d 188 (3rd Cir. 2006). Unless and until that happens, however, the Pennsylvania Election Code is silent about what minor parties and independent candidates must do to gain ballot access.</font></div>
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<div><font size="3" face="Times New Roman">What that should mean is that the Secretary of State should place on the ballot any minor party candidate who demonstrates a “modicum” of support. That standard comes from Supreme Court decisions recognizing that states
are permitted to require such a showing. But “modicum” means a small amount. So under current law, CPPA, GPPA and LPPA should be able to place their candidates on the ballot in 2016, provided they each demonstrate some modicum or small amount of support among
the electorate.</font></div>
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<div><font size="3" face="Times New Roman">I will follow up with opposing counsel and/or the Secretary of State’s office to ensure that we are in agreement about the effect of Judge Stengel’s decision and procedures for 2016. But I think we can be confident
that the system of private party challenges is over – at least insofar as it requires defending candidates to provide their own workers and potentially pay their challengers’ costs.
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<div><font size="3" face="Times New Roman">I hope that’s clear. And once again, congratulations to all!</font></div>
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<div><font size="3" face="Times New Roman">Oliver</font> </div>
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<div><b>From:</b> <a title="oliverhall@competitivedemocracy.org" href="mailto:oliverhall@competitivedemocracy.org" target="_blank">
oliverhall@competitivedemocracy.org</a> </div>
<div><b>Sent:</b> Friday, July 24, 2015 9:45 AM</div>
<div><b>To:</b> <a title="oliverhall@competitivedemocracy.org" href="mailto:oliverhall@competitivedemocracy.org" target="_blank">
oliverhall@competitivedemocracy.org</a> </div>
<div><b>Subject:</b> CPPA v. Aichele: WE WIN!</div>
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<div>Good Morning:</div>
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<div>Judge Stengel entered the attached opinion this morning. I have not read it except for the part that says, “For the reasons that follow, I find that the statutes are unconstitutional as applied to the plaintiffs but they are facially valid.”
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<div>What this means is: WE WIN!!!</div>
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<div>Judgment entered in our favor on Counts I and II of the complaint. The judge held the challenged statutes unconstitutional as applied to the plaintiffs, but denied our Count III claim that Section 2937 is unconstitutional on its face. (We don’t need to
win Count III to get the relief we seek.) </div>
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<div>Congratulations everyone – this is huge. </div>
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<div>More later.</div>
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<div>Regards,</div>
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<div style="font-size:12pt;font-family:'Times New Roman';color:#000000">Oliver Hall<br>
Legal Counsel<br>
Center for Competitive Democracy<br>
1835 16th Street NW, Suite 5<br>
Washington, D.C. 20009<br>
<a href="tel:%28202%29%20248-9294" value="+12022489294" target="_blank">(202) 248-9294</a> ph.<br>
<a href="tel:%28202%29%20248-9345" value="+12022489345" target="_blank">(202) 248-9345</a> fx.<br>
<a href="mailto:oliverhall@competitivedemocracy.org" target="_blank">oliverhall@competitivedemocracy.org</a> </div>
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<div><b>From:</b> <a title="oliverhall@competitivedemocracy.org" href="mailto:oliverhall@competitivedemocracy.org" target="_blank">
oliverhall@competitivedemocracy.org</a> </div>
<div><b>Sent:</b> Wednesday, November 26, 2014 11:20 AM</div>
<div><b>To:</b> <a title="oliverhall@competitivedemocracy.org" href="mailto:oliverhall@competitivedemocracy.org" target="_blank">
oliverhall@competitivedemocracy.org</a> </div>
<div><b>Subject:</b> Re: CPPA v. Aichele: MTD and Opposition</div>
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<div>Folks:</div>
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<div>A bit of good news for Thanksgiving: Pennsylvania withdrew its motion to dismiss today. As opposing counsel admitted yesterday on the phone, there was “no way” Judge Stengel could grant it anyway. We have the excellent Third Circuit opinion to thank for
that. </div>
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<div>No we will proceed to summary judgment motions in early 2015, after Pennsylvania files an answer to our Amended Complaint.
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<div>Happy Thanksgiving!</div>
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<div style="font-size:12pt;font-family:'Times New Roman';color:#000000">Oliver Hall<br>
Legal Counsel<br>
Center for Competitive Democracy<br>
1835 16th Street NW, Suite 5<br>
Washington, D.C. 20009<br>
<a href="tel:%28202%29%20248-9294" value="+12022489294" target="_blank">(202) 248-9294</a> ph.<br>
<a href="tel:%28202%29%20248-9345" value="+12022489345" target="_blank">(202) 248-9345</a> fx.<br>
<a href="mailto:oliverhall@competitivedemocracy.org" target="_blank">oliverhall@competitivedemocracy.org</a> </div>
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<div><b>From:</b> <a title="oliverhall@competitivedemocracy.org" href="mailto:oliverhall@competitivedemocracy.org" target="_blank">
oliverhall@competitivedemocracy.org</a> </div>
<div><b>Sent:</b> Tuesday, November 04, 2014 7:55 PM</div>
<div><b>To:</b> <a title="oliverhall@competitivedemocracy.org" href="mailto:oliverhall@competitivedemocracy.org" target="_blank">
oliverhall@competitivedemocracy.org</a> </div>
<div><b>Subject:</b> CPPA v. Aichele: MTD and Opposition</div>
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<div>Greetings,</div>
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<div>Please see attached the Defendants’ Motion to Dismiss in <em>Constitution Party of Pennsylvnia v. Aichele</em>, and our Opposition to the motion, which was filed on Friday.
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<div>Now we wait to see how Judge Stengel responds. The Third Circuit provided him with all kinds of helpful guidance, if he will only follow it.
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<div>Thanks,</div>
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<div style="font-size:12pt;font-family:'Times New Roman';color:#000000">Oliver Hall<br>
Legal Counsel<br>
Center for Competitive Democracy<br>
1835 16th Street NW, Suite 5<br>
Washington, D.C. 20009<br>
<a href="tel:%28202%29%20248-9294" value="+12022489294" target="_blank">(202) 248-9294</a> ph.<br>
<a href="tel:%28202%29%20248-9345" value="+12022489345" target="_blank">(202) 248-9345</a> fx.<br>
<a href="mailto:oliverhall@competitivedemocracy.org" target="_blank">oliverhall@competitivedemocracy.org</a> </div>
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