Yesterday evening, Andy Jacobs and I (Paulie) discussed harassment of ballot access petitioners, including Andy’s arrest outside a public library while petitioning to get the Green and Libertarian Parties back on the Maryland ballot. For the first hour of the show we were joined by Maryland Green Party Co-Chair Brian Bittner. Listen to the show and comment:

To listen to the show if you read this after another IPR blogtalk episode is recorded, go to http://www.blogtalkradio.com/Ind-Pol-Report/2011/01/25/rescheduled-brian-bittner-andy-jacobs-on-maryland-ballot-access-petitioning-and-arrest.

We discussed ballot access barriers to alternative parties getting on the ballot in Maryland and illegal harassment of petitioners getting signatures to meet these onerous requirements on public property. Andy Jacobs is a petitioner who was arrested outside a library in Maryland after being told to leave and then saying he wanted record the police officers issuing this illegal order. Many other related subjects were also touched on in the two hour long show.

For previous articles and comments on this incident, see:

IPR

Pre-show announcement thread

Maryland Greens and Libertarians hand in signatures; petitioners harassed, one arrested at public library

Ballot Access News:

Veteran Petitioner Andy Jacobs Arrested for Petitioning Outside Public Library in Maryland

Baltimore Sun:

Green Party says library incident highlights petition drive concerns

Green Party Watch:

Personal account of ballot access petitioning and harassment in public places in Maryland

Maryland GP petitioner arrested (this was based on the Baltimore Sun report and other early reports that did not mention that Andy was petitioning for the Libertarian Party as well).

On The Wilder Side:

Veteran third party petitioner pepper-sprayed and arrested in Maryland

CAIVN:

Third Party Petitioner Harassed, Pepper Sprayed and Arrested Outside Maryland Public Library

Same article at PoliTea

TPID reprise of Baltimore Sun Article

Andy and obviously myself both read IPR regularly, so if anyone listens and has comments or questions about any of the things discussed please post them here. I would be interested in seeing what people think about any of the issues discussed.

I’m not sure whether or not Brian Bittner reads IPR, if anyone has questions for him I can email him.