Federal Court Upholds State’s Primary Ballot Access Law, Injunction Denied.

Federal District Court Judge Janet C. Hall upheld Connecticut’s primary petition access law, denying an injunction sought by three Democratic hopefuls and a Democratic voter. The Plaintiffs complained the requirement to obtain signatures of registered Democrats on primary petitions during the COVID-19 pandemic makes it impossible to qualify for a primary. The Plaintiffs sought to have the number of signatures reduced from 5% to 1% of registered party voters in a district.

Governor Ned Lamont used executive orders to extend the signature collection period from 14 days to 16 days. He also reduced the number of signatures required from 5% to 3.5% of registered party members in a district. In addition, Lamont eliminated in person signatures and allowed signatures by mail or electronic means, with no requirement of a witness to the signatures.

Plaintiffs argued that the reduced requirements put an unconstitutional burden on their ability to gain access to the ballot or the right to participate in a primary.

The Plaintiffs in the motion for the injunction are voter Lorna Chand and aspiring candidates Andy Gottlieb, Jason Bartlett, and Richard Lacourciere. The court found “Plaintiffs have not provided sufficient evidence to demonstrate that their inability to to obtain the required signatures reflects the near impossibility of meeting the statutory requirements and is not the result of, for example, an insufficient or ineffective effort.”

The plaintiffs have until June 16th to submit petitions to qualify for a primary challenge to the endorsed candidate in their contest.