Green Party argues for place on Nevada's November ballot

LAS VEGAS (KSNV News3LV) — The Green Party went to the Lloyd George Federal Courthouse today to persuade Judge Jennifer Dorsey to rule their candidate has a place on Nevada’s November ballot.

“This case is about having the voters put who they want to vote for on the ballot,” Tony Nasser, the Green Party’s attorney, told News 3 outside the courthouse. “It’s not about the state telling voters this is your choices. Here’s what you get to pick from.”

To qualify, the Green Party needed to submit 5,431 verified signatures. In fact, the party says, it submitted approximately 8,600, but thousands were disqualified in Clark County, many because they lived outside the county. As a result, the Green Party fell 647 signatures short of what was necessary.

The Green Party turned to federal court, arguing that the deadline imposed by the Secretary of State’s office was unconstitutional and that it should be ordered to accept the additional signatures the party presented.

In court, Lori Story, Nevada’s Senior Deputy Attorney General, arguing on behalf of the Secretary of State, said the Green Party waited too long to start collecting signatures and could have started sooner, effectively avoiding any problem.

“I’ll stand by what I told her in court,” Nasser said. “They collected over 2,500 more signatures than was required, and so by any reasonable calculation they would have assumed they met their burden.”

In states where it’s close – and Nevada is one of them – the Green Party’s Jill Stein could be a factor. She could attract Sanders supporters whom the Clinton campaign needs, people like Hubert Gesenhues, who used to “feel the Bern.” Now, he’s rooting for Jill.

“I agreed with what she had to say and I thought she represents what I want in a candidate,” Gesenhues told News 3, attracted by Stein’s progressive views.

There are third party candidates already qualified for the Nevada ballot, including the Independent American ticket, and the Libertarians, led by former New Mexico Governor Gary Johnson.

Clinton supporter Miriam Gibson, a member of the Nevada Democratic Party’s central committee, says the Green Party effort has one goal: hurt Democrats, like in 2000 when Ralph Nader, in the view of some, siphoned votes away from Al Gore.

“To me, it’s a Ralph Nader move, but even Ralph Nader at least did it the right way,” Gibson said.

The judge made no ruling.

“I’ll issue an order as soon as I can,” Judge Dorsey said from the bench.