Opinion ID: 205443
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Right of Exclusive Access

Text: The Libertarian Party argued to the district court that it had a right of exclusive access to the ballot which was denied by the state. It sought relief that would have removed the names of the non-nominee qualifying Libertarian candidates, Phillies and Bennett. The Libertarian Party cites no case holding that a political organization or party not recognized as such by a state has the right to remove from a ballot the names of candidates who otherwise meet state ballot law qualifications and who identify themselves with that organization's philosophy. [9] The Libertarian Party's cause is not advanced by its attempt to characterize its request to remove the names of Phillies and Bennett as a mere request for substitution. New Hampshire law provides recognized parties with the right to substitute candidates in limited circumstances. See N.H.Rev.Stat. §§ 655:37-39. But the Libertarian Party makes no argument that these statutory rights are required by the First Amendment. And in any event, none of the conditions under which parties can substitute candidates under New Hampshire law provided the basis for the Libertarian Party's claimed right of substitution. The Libertarian Party was not seeking substitution to fill a vacancy caused by the withdrawal, disqualification, or death of its nominee. Furthermore, even if the Libertarian Party had demonstrated a burden on its constitutionally protected rights, the state's policy of limiting substitution rights to party candidates is based on its undoubted right to require candidates to make a preliminary showing of substantial support in order to qualify for a place on the ballot. Anderson, 460 U.S. at 789 n. 9, 103 S.Ct. 1564. Logically, this interest is advanced by the Secretary's refusal to grant to non-party candidates the right to substitution.... Granting such substitution would effectuate an end-run around the signature requirementa requirement that allows the state to ascertain whether a given candidate has enough support to warrant inclusion on the ballot. Barr, 626 F.3d at 111. The Libertarian Party's claimed right to deny ballot access to Libertarian candidates it does not endorse, via removal or substitution of Phillies and Bennett, fails.