https://socialistaction.org/2018/09/17/socialist-action-candidate-fights-for-connecticut-ballot-status/
Socialist Action candidate fights for Connecticut ballot status
/ 13 hours ago
Oct. 2018 SA petitions cropped
In August, volunteers for Fred Linck’s socialist campaign came to the
office of the Connecticut Secretary of State with signed petitions to
place him on the ballot.
By ERNIE GOTTA
The Connecticut Secretary of State’s office is threatening to rule Iraq
War veteran Fred Linck, the Socialist Action candidate for U.S. Senate,
off the ballot. Dozens of petitions are still in the hands of town
clerks (likely containing hundreds of uncounted signatures), and a
cursory examination of a sample of counted signatures suggests that
clerks have been illegally rejecting hundreds, if not thousands of
signatures.
With more than 6700 signatures already verified, it is clear that there
are easily enough valid signatures among the remaining uncounted or
rejected signatures (some 4200) to bring the total above the 7500 needed
for ballot status.
On Sept. 12, two campaign volunteers visited the Secretary of State’s
office. Their inspection of a sample of about one-tenth the submitted
signatures (less than 1300) found that:
•71 voters were ruled off by Hartford town clerks for being
“unaffiliated”—not a legal reason to reject signatures for an
independent candidate!
•25 voters were ruled off in New Haven for being “inactive”—not a legal
reason to reject signatures unless the date of birth is missing (these
voters have included their birth-dates)
•72 voters’ signatures were ruled off in New London for being
“illegible,” when their information is quite legible.
The violations discovered so far in the sample suggest that hundreds,
and likely thousands, of signatures have been illegally rejected by town
clerks. Even a conservative estimate provides enough signatures to
qualify Linck for ballot status.
Oct. 2018 Conn. petitioning
Gathering signatures to get Fred Linck on the ballot earlier in the year.
Volunteers also found that 56 petition sheets are missing, possibly
still in town clerk offices, where they were supposed to have been
checked three weeks ago; 56 petition sheets can contain up to 1680
signatures. Even half-filled, the 56 missing sheets alone would provide
enough signatures to qualify Linck for ballot status. Other
“independent” candidates, like Oz Griebel, a former banker and
Republican Party politician, obtained ballot status by wide margins
after turning in fewer signatures than Linck.
Supporters of Fred gathered on the steps of the office of the Secretary
of State to show their support for the candidate and commemorate the
tragedy of Sept. 11, which was used to justify horrific wars in Iraq and
Afghanistan and launch a campaign of terror on our Muslim brothers and
sisters here in the U.S. and abroad
Fred Linck said earlier, “Our team of volunteers worked hard for months
to gather nearly 11,000 signatures. … Thousands of people want to know
when they’ll see their candidate on the ballot. We want to make sure
their signatures count. We are ready to examine any and all signatures
discarded by counters and to defend voters’ rights to expand their
choices on the November ballot.”
The candidate continued, “People in Connecticut have made it clear that
they want a socialist on the ballot. Why? Because this campaign is about
demanding free quality health care, education, and housing for workers
and their families. Because it opposes the terror campaign waged against
immigrant families and wars abroad to benefit the rich. Because this
campaign stands with organized labor and working-class families against
big business and government attacks.”
Action needed!
Secretary of State Denise Merrill should require that town clerks check
and submit the missing 56 nominating petitions now. They are already
three weeks past their mandated deadline. Merrill also needs to review
petitions for illegally rejected signatures and ensure that all
signatures from registered voters are included in the final count.
Contact Secretary of State Denise Merrill now to demand that all
signatures be counted, that illegal rejection of signatures cease and be
reversed. Office of the Secretary of the State: (860) 509-6200. Select
the option for elections, and then the option to call as a member of the
public.
Ask Denise Merrill on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SOTSMerrill/ Or
on Twitter: https://twitter.com/SOTSMerrill
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September 17, 2018 in Connecticut, Vote Socialist Action.
Related posts
Connecticut socialist turns in over 10,900 signatures for U.S. Senate bid
Iraq veteran runs for U.S. Senate: Vote Socialist Action!
Socialist Action Candidate Needs Your Help!
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