Fundraising email from LPHQ. Note to other IPR writers: my email does not have a way to grab HTML source code – if anyone has this in a format that includes the embedded links and bold text, etc, please update this article with that – paulie
Dear Fellow Libertarian,
Ballot access is never easy, even when it’s going well. It can be hell when everything goes wrong.
In our efforts to get our Libertarian candidates on the ballot this election year, we’re somewhere in between “never easy” and “hell.”
Petitioning costs have been at one of their highest levels ever due to competition for petitioners who have been lured by high-paying signature drives across the country. It’s been a bumper crop year for ballot initiatives which has forced us to compete aggressively for petitioners.
Ouch!
But here’s the GREAT news.
Americans Elect, that strange third-party organization that professes to have no particular political agenda, is now out of the running. They have given up their quest to run a presidential candidate this year.
The field is wide open for Libertarians!
But here’s what’s even better.
The Libertarian Party is outstandingly efficient when it comes to getting on the ballot.
The Wall Street Journal reported this week that AE spent $14 million – just to get on the ballot in 28 states before they dropped out!
How many more millions of dollars would they have spent to get on in all 50 states?
In striking contrast, the Libertarian Party will spend less than $350,000 total to get on in 48, 49 or 50 states. And maybe D.C. as well.
That makes us well more than 50 times more cost-effective at getting on the ballot than Americans Elect!
FIFTY times!!!
The Libertarian Party is bargain city when it comes to ballot access.
We’re now on the ballot in 31 states. We still have a shot at getting on in all 50.
BUT – several states are struggling and will not make the ballot without additional funds.
We have to raise both budgeted funds to pay for ballot access – plus additional funds to pay for higher-than-expected costs this year.
We desperately need to raise a total of $112,500 now to keep our ballot drives going.
With Americans Elect out of the running, that will mean even more votes for our Libertarian candidates. There is no other strong choice for the many disaffected voters out there who are sick and tired of Democrats and Republicans. We’re it.
Tea Partiers, peace-lovers and Ron Paul supporters are looking seriously at the Libertarian Party. This year, we could win more votes than ever!
But only if we’re on the ballot!
If we get on the ballot in 48 or 49 states, 99% of Americans will be able to cast their vote for Libertarian. If we get on in 50 states plus D.C, every American can vote Libertarian this fall.
But without additional funds now, we won’t.
Gary Johnson is getting amazing mainstream media coverage – CNN, Wall Street Journal, Daily Show, Fox News. High-profile media appearances several times a week plus many more radio, print and TV appearances daily.
2012 could be our breakthrough year. A great opportunity for record-breaking Libertarian votes. A breakthrough year for membership growth – if we get on the ballot in every state possible.
Will you donate now? Will you help make sure we get every vote possible?
Your donation makes a difference nationally – and in YOUR state.
Your donation for Libertarian ballot access is the most cost-effective donation for liberty you can make – anywhere.
Please make your most generous contribution now to ensure we get our Libertarian candidates on the ballot.
If you can make a large donation of $2,500, $10,000 or more, it would be gratefully appreciated – and make a huge difference.
If you can donate $250 or $350 or $850 or $1,500 – it would be tremendously helpful – would you please?
If you’re able to donate $35 or $85 or $150 now – it will help – a lot. Would you please donate now?
Every donation gets us one step closer to full ballot access.
Maybe it’s easier for you to donate in installments. Would you sign up to be a monthly pledger? You can donate $25 or $85 or $350 or $1,000 per month – whatever you can afford. You’ll receive our special monthly Liberty Pledge newsletter to keep you up to date on party activities.
If you’re already a pledger, would you please increase the level of your pledge during this critical election year?
Record Libertarian votes in 48, 49 or 50 states are possible this year – if you help.
Please donate today – and thank you for all you’ve done for liberty.
Yours in liberty,
Carla Howell, Executive Director
National Libertarian Party
P.S. Please help us jump on this incredible opportunity to get more votes than ever. Please donate $25, $50 or $100 or $1,000 or $2,500 – or whatever amount is right for you – to get our candidates on the ballot now!
Of course it’s BS, but it got upheld and there is no more state court relief. Federal litigation could still happen but it is likely that it will not provide injunctive relief in time to prevent having to do a ballot drive and/or cost more than the ballot drive.
“paulie // May 21, 2012 at 11:11 am
Maryland will now need more signatures
http://www.ballot-access.org/2012/05/21/marylands-highest-state-court-construes-law-on-petition-checking-in-an-unfavorable-manner/ ”
This is complete bullshit. There are more than enough valid signatures on both the Libertarian Party’s petition and the Green Party’s petition for both of them to have ballot access right now, if you go by any rational standard for judging the signatures. This is a screw-job.
I’m not sure yet what that means for the registrations.
I think it means they have until the August deadline to save those.
Maryland will now need more signatures
http://www.ballot-access.org/2012/05/21/marylands-highest-state-court-construes-law-on-petition-checking-in-an-unfavorable-manner/
Maryland’s Highest State Court Construes Law on Petition-Checking in an Unfavorable Manner
On May 21, the highest state court in Maryland, the State Court of Appeals, interpreted Maryland election law to mean that signatures on petitions are invalid if there is no exact match in the name on the voter registration record, and the name on the petition. As a result, the Libertarian Party and the Green Party do not have enough valid signatures on their petitions for 2012, and must now get more before the August 6 deadline. Here is the 36-page unanimous decision, which is called Maryland State Board of Elections v Libertarian Party of Maryland, 11-79.
The Court also construed the law to mean that if a voter signs the petition the first time using a nickname or other variant of the name that doesn’t match, that voter is not then free to re-sign another sheet of the petition with the precisely correct name.
Maryland requires 10,000 signatures for ballot access for new parties. The Libertarian Party is now deemed to have only 6,583 valid signatures, and the Green Party now has only 5,919 valid signatures.
The Court took pains to say that it is not deciding whether the strict standard is constitutional or not. It says it cannot decide that question because the case was not presented to it as a constitutional question. Reading between the lines, it is overwhelmingly likely that the Court decided this case in this hostile manner because the judges are not sympathetic to various referenda petitions being circulated. The judges probably believe that the Libertarian and Green Parties, and other minor parties, will be able to qualify despite the ruling, because the number of valid signatures they still need is a small number. The real impact of this decision will be to make it virtually impossible for referendum petitions to succeed, including one that would put same-sex marriage to a popular vote. Referendum petitions covering statewide issues need hundreds of thousands of valid signatures.
MHW
Good news. Make sure the paperwork is done early too, Rachel told me she had a hard time getting some of it back on time from the Johnson campaign.
1k valid in WA is not terrible, it’s one of the easiest state requirements out of states we don’t have retention from before, but I’m sure you would welcome volunteer help from people reading this, yes?
As far as bringing in anyone for pay – you are an initiative state and have plenty of petitioners that live there and there are petitions going on there now which are not paying well. If you need paid people you would not want to have us coming all the way cross country as that would be expensive.
If you really do have it covered with local volunteers even better. I know you do some petitioning, dunno about others there.
I’ve done 1k valid drives volunteer before. It’s still not easy, even though it’s easy compared with many other states.
MD may or may not be settled depending on whether the lawsuits have been resolved or not.
There are a few other states near there do or will need help. VA does but you have to work with a VA resident side by side iirc, state law on residency. DC will but I don’t think they can start yet. WV is still going as far as I know but I may have missed the news if it ended. PA may need more sigs to cove validity or to get candidates on the ballot in different parts of the state, but they are out of money. DC does also have a residency issue and PA I believe as well. WV does not.
If you are willing to travel to other states give me a call. I think we can get you set up.
Right now the paid deals, at least the ones I am being offered – someone else may have a better deal – do not include separate payments for travel expenses, so you would have to either work out something directly with LPHQ, see if you can get a separate deal with the campaign or any state parties or trade sigs for expenses. There may be another way to do it that I haven’t thought of.
They basically expect the costs of travel to come out of the signature budget. If you have a realistic expectation of how many signatures you can get, you can volunteer to accept a lower rate than they offer you and have it roughly equal out your expenses, or you can get paid the full rate they offer and donate some of that back to the LP and/or the campaign, whatever is over and above your expenses or whatever other amount you want to cycle back.
We cannot start collecting signatures in Washington until June 1st but we think we are fairly well covered.
Good to hear about MD. Wish I lived closer to some of the others or could afford the travel to help. I generally have a week off between jobs for my 6 to 6(I work in the oil industry) and would be willing to travel and work free if the trip could be covered(likely would be cheaper than the going rate overall that way).
As I understand for now they have retained them, but if we end up losing the court case we could still lose the reg libs if we don’t get more sigs.
They have about 9-10k reg and would need 40k plus.
Was the MD LP able to retain their Libertarian registered voters, or were they lost?
If they did maintain them, about how many do they have and how many do they need for permanent ballot status based on registratons, if possible in MD?
Last I checked was not that long ago and the appeals were still happening. Maybe I missed something too.
You may have missed that they appealed more than once.
“MD – not sure if lawsuit has been settled. We got them more than enough but last I heard the state is still suing to prove that a completely insane verification standard should apply. If they win we would need more.”
The lawsuit was settled in Maryland a while ago. We won. The real validity rate on the petition signatures submitted by the Libertarian Party of Maryland was much higher than the Maryland Elections Division originally said that it was.
Now more than ever
http://www.lp.org/contribute
tell them it’s for Ballot Access
I have her contact info. I don’t know if it’s OK for me to post it and I won’t post it unless it’s OK. You suggested contacting her so I followed up by asking you about that.
You are not being difficult. If I thought it was OK to give out I would have already done that. I was just surprised about you telling people to contact someone without saying how.
@8 Paulie,
I don’t post or make public anyone’s information unless it is accessible in public domain somewhere. From my understanding, her information is not readily available.
If you want to contact in general, try the Illinois facebook page. I believe that is still her responding to messages, questions, and postings.
If she offers it to you after great.
I’m not trying to be difficult, but people must give me consent prior to disclosure. Sorry.
Anyone who wants to discuss specifics of ballot access plans in any and all states is welcome and encouraged to give me a call (ph # see @7)
Those of you who have my email:
I prefer phone calls and IPR comments over email, in that order.
See
https://independentpoliticalreport.com/2012/05/wrights-campaign-wants-to-occupy-ballot-access
For more info
Steven – do you know if it’s OK to give out Julie’s contact info for that?
Ryan
In re IL you can find what you need at
http://occupyballotaccess.com/illinois-petition-drive-tool-kit/
If you are in Chicagoland I am in the area (Arlington Heights) and will work with you if you are up for it. 415-690-6352. I’m doing this fulltime but don’t have a car, so it would be especially awesome if you have a working vehicle.
Not a problem if you don’t.
You are welcome to call me even if you are downstate or not up for working spots with me.
Ryan
IL
MA
CT
ME
AL
MN
PA is in good shape raw number wise, but need help in areas outside of Metro Philly to make sure downticket candidates can be on the ballot also and as a hedge against potential validity issues in the event of a challenge
WA
OR potentially, if Wagner and Co do not put Johnson on
NY but can’t start until Jul 15
DC — iirc there’s also a start date there which is not yet; I could be wrong
IA — we got them started but they need more help
MI – if we don’t get injunctive relief through lawsuit
OK – unless we get injunctive relief or retroactive access through pending legislation
RI
MD – not sure if lawsuit has been settled. We got them more than enough but last I heard the state is still suing to prove that a completely insane verification standard should apply. If they win we would need more.
NH still needs more last that I heard
TN
WV not yet finished as far as I know
WI
That’s off the top of my head so I could be forgetting some.
We also need help finding electors and possibly some other paperwork in pretty much every state.
As far as sigs LA, TX and AR are all in the bag, but there is paperwork that got screwed up in LA last time and almost got screwed up in MS and WA (and that’s just the places I know of) and we need to make sure nothing like that happens again.
Illinois definitely needs help for POTUS. Take a look at the IPR post from the Wrights campaign.
I believe Illinois needs it for specific races. You might contact Julie Fox for more details.
If IL needs help, I’m willing to help circulate petitions.
I am not sure which states need help. I live near the intersection of Louisiana, Texas, and Arkansas. If any of these 3 states ever needed help with a petition drive, I would be glad to drive and help for a few Saturday’s. They all have ballot access though but I would encourage others to do the same if they live near a state that needs help.
So, not on the ballot yet in 19 states. Anyone know which states still need help?