Criteria for Candidates to Participate in ACLU Voter 2020 Questionnaire and Events:
The ACLU of New Hampshire is a non-partisan organization and does not endorse candidates or political parties. The ACLU of NH submitted questionnaires and extended invitations to Civil Liberties and the Corner Office to candidates running for NH Governor who are a member of a recognized political party, as defined in RSA 652:11, or who have met the signature threshold required of other parties under RSA 655:40 and RSA 655:42, and who have polled higher than 10% in a statewide poll.
- RSA 652:11 Party. – "Party" shall mean any political organization which at the preceding state general election received at least 4 percent of the total number of votes cast for any one of the following: the office of governor or the offices of United States senators.
- RSA 655:40 General Provisions. – As an alternative to nomination by party primary, a candidate may have his or her name placed on the ballot for the state general election by submitting the requisite number of nomination papers. Such papers shall contain the name and domicile of the candidate, the office for which the candidate is nominated, and the political organization or principles the candidate represents. Nomination papers shall be signed by such persons only as are registered to vote at the state general election. No voter shall sign more than one nomination paper for each office to be voted for, and no nomination paper shall contain the names of more candidates than there are offices to be filled. Each voter shall sign and date an individual nomination paper. Nomination papers shall be dated in the year of the election.
- RSA 655:42 Number. –
- I. It shall require the names of 3,000 registered voters, 1,500 from each United States congressional district in the state, to nominate by nomination papers a candidate for president, United States senator, or governor.
- II. It shall require the names of 1,500 voters registered in the district to nominate by nomination papers a candidate for United States representative; 750 to nominate a candidate for councilor or state senator; and 150 to nominate a candidate for state representative or county officer.
- III. It shall require the names of registered voters equaling 3 percent of the total votes cast at the previous state general election to nominate by nomination papers a political organization.
If you believe you meet this criteria and have not yet been contacted by us, please reach out to info@aclu-nh.org.