Johnny Swanson, III v. The State of Alabama

HULL, Circuit Judge:

Plaintiffs are former independent political candidates who appeal the district court’s order granting summary judgment to the state defendants on plaintiffs’ constitutional challenge to Alabama’s ballot access restrictions. Specifically, under Alabama law, independent candidates seeking ballot access must submit a petition with the signatures of at least three percent of qualified electors who cast ballots at the last general election for governor, and the signature petition must be filed by the first primary election date, which is the first Tuesday in June. See Ala.Code…