Resource: Libertarian Party v. Wolf

Plaintiffs, three political parties and their supporters and potential candidates for office, sought a preliminary injunction enjoining the enforcement of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania’s in-person signature requirements for party candidates. Plaintiffs argued that given the extraordinary circumstances that have resulted from the COVID-19 pandemic, including the Governor’s stay at home orders and social distancing restrictions, the Commonwealth’s signature requirements violate their First and Fourteenth Amendment rights, and thus that they are entitled to automatic placement on the November general election ballot. The Court denied Plaintiffs’ motion for a preliminary injunction, finding that amidst the pandemic the signature requirements impose an intermediate burden on Plaintiffs, and that this burden is not outweighed by the Commonwealth’s legitimate interest in avoiding ballot clustering and ensuring viable candidates and the orderly and efficient administration of elections.