By Mia Summerson

Sentinel Staff

The Libertarian Party of New Hampshire has asked the state to waive the required number of signatures to put its candidates on the ballot this fall, due to the COVID-19 outbreak.

The N.H. Libertarians have determined it would be a risk to public health if their members go out into the community to circulate petitions, the party said in a news release issued last week.

In a letter sent to N.H. Secretary of State Bill Gardner, the party’s executive committee said members had been out collecting signatures since early January but have halted those efforts to protect “voters, activists and those who will eventually handle these petitions....”

The release says that, in the past, the party has regularly been able to secure the 3,000 signatures required for unrecognized parties to gain ballot access for gubernatorial or U.S. Senate candidates, the only statewide races that could get the party listed on the ballot.

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