The progressive organization MoveOn is calling on secretaries of state across the country to investigate No Labels, a group lobbying for a third-party presidential candidate.
“We are writing to inform you of our grave concern about the activities of a political organization called ‘No Labels’ that may be operating in your state and has been flagged by another state election official for potentially misleading voters,” the MoveOn executive wrote. Political Action. director, Rahna Epting, in a letter to Illinois Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias (D), shared with The Hill. The Messenger first reported the story.
The letter asks the clerk to “investigate the work and practices of No Labels staff and pollsters, as they may be actively working to get on the ballot in your state” and to “ensure that No Labels’ voting activity in your state is legal.” and above the table.
Maine Secretary of State Shenna Bellows (D) alerted voters in her state in May that some “may not know they have signed up for the No Labels Party, which is seeking party status in Maine.” She said voters were told they were signing a petition, rather than a registration form that would change their party affiliation.
Bellows sent a letter to the No Labels ballot access director to raise “serious concerns” about the campaign’s apparent conduct “to register Maine voters in the No Labels Party for the purpose of qualifying that party for elections.” 2024 elections”. New parties need 5,000 registered voters to have access to ballots for Maine’s 2024 primary, according to the clerk’s office.
Registering as a member of the No Labels party would bar voters from participating in the state’s Republican or Democratic primaries. No Labels is a bipartisan group seeking to cast a “unity ticket” in the 2024 presidential election that would include a Republican and a Democrat.
“We want to make sure that these same practices cited in the Maine secretary of state’s letter do not occur in your state,” MoveOn said in its letter.
No Labels have reportedly already held a spot on the ballot in Arizona, Alaska, Colorado and Oregon.
Many on the left have expressed concern that the third-party candidate could unseat President Biden in his re-election bid if he goes against the current Republican front-runner, former President Trump. No Labels has vowed to end their efforts if polls show Biden to be “way, way ahead” of Trump next spring.
No Labels chief strategist Ryan Clancy said in response to the letter that “In every state where No Labels is active, we are very clear about what we are doing and why. We are offering Americans a choice they obviously want in 2024 and we are following both the letter and the spirit of all applicable election laws,” according to a statement published on The Messenger.
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