The Constitution Party was unable to finish its petition in time for the May 12 West Virginia deadline. However, the same petition can still be turned in by the August 1 deadline. The disadvantage of the party using the later deadline is that the petition will only be good for president and vice-president, and not for other office, such as Governor.
The Constitution Party’s petition has Butch Paugh listed as its candidate for Governor. If the petition is turned in by August 1, and has enough valid signatures, Chuck Baldwin will be on for president, but Paugh will not be on for Governor. No statewide minor party petition has managed to qualify in West Virginia by the May deadline since 2000, when the Mountain Party succeeded.
That is a shame about the gubernatorial candidate but I hope they qualify the national ticket for a place on the ballot.
Can they get Butch Paugh on the ballot as an individual candidate?
How many signatures do they have? And how many do they need?
The petition needs 15,118 valid signatures. The Constitution Party only had 11,000 as of May 1.
There is no ballot access procedure other than the one being talked about.
To fall only 4000 short is pretty crappy.
Constitution Party of West Virginia
Written by Constitution Party of West Virginia
Friday, 16 May 2008 12:25
The Constitution Party of West Virginia turned in the remainder of completed petition forms to the Secretary of State on May 12th, Monday, which is the deadline date for Governor. We have turned in a total of 11,500 signatures for our candidate for Governor, Butch Paugh. These petitions will also count for Chuck Baldwin for President. Petitioning is continuing for Chuck Baldwin because the deadline for president is August 1. Signitures were also turned in for other local candidates who are running for Sheriff of Wetzel Co., house of Delegates in the 5th and 27th district and for Surveyor of Berkley Co.
Denzil Sloan, 1st District Vice-Chairman
Constitution Party of West Virginia
Re: #2. West Virginia’s petition procedure is for individual candidates, but they can designate a party.
But in addition, a party’s continued ballot access is vested in the success of its gubernatorial candidate.