Former Constitution Party Field Director Challenges Montana Limit on Speech that Mixes Religion with Politics
February 22nd, 2012On February 21, Calvin Zastrow filed a federal complaint against a Montana law, section 13-35-218(2) of the election code, that says, “No person who is a minister, preacher, priest, or other church officer or who is an officer of any corporation or organization, religious or otherwise, may, other than by public speech or print, urge, persuade, or command any voter to vote or refrain from voting for or against any candidate, political party ticket, or ballot issue submitted to the people because of his religious duty or the interest of any corporation, church or other organization.”
Also, the lawsuit attacks section 13-13-113, which says that every polling place must include a poster that quotes section 13-35-218(2).
Finally, the lawsuit also mentions that Zastrow was recently arrested for circulating a petition on a public sidewalk, and asks for an injunction permitting him to resume petitioning. He was petitioning for an initiative at the time. The sidewalk is in front of the Montana Pavilion at MetraPark in Billings. The case is Zastrow v Bullock, 12-18, filed in Billings. Zastrow is a past national field director for the Constitution Party. Thanks to Rick Hasen for the link.
February 22nd, 2012 at 8:58 am
Will the U.S.A. 7th Calvary Regt. have to liberate the People in MT from the tyrant regime laws ???
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/7th_Cavalry_Regiment_(United_States)
February 22nd, 2012 at 4:46 pm
Good luck on his lawsuit, but compared to Gary Odom, Calvin did a horrible job as the CP’s field director.
February 22nd, 2012 at 6:06 pm
Most states have residency requirements for those gathering signatures. Was this person a resident of Montana?
February 22nd, 2012 at 10:51 pm
[...] Source: Ballot Access News [...]
February 23rd, 2012 at 11:00 am
Uh, Cody, thanks, but please don’t bring me into any unwanted and unnecessary battles and besides, it would appear that Cal’s Federal action against this Montana law has great merit and should be supported by all of us.
Also, I was among several delegates who Cal trained to petition at the 2004 Constitution Party in Valley Forge, PA. Unfortunately, despite some effort, my petitioning skills never blossomed to anywhere close to the level of proficiency of Cal or Nick Sumbles or people like that.
February 23rd, 2012 at 11:14 am
#3, very few states still have residency requirements for circulators. However, as it happens, Cal Zastrow does live in Montana.