(Editor’s note: This is reprinted at the request of the Lincoln Democratic Town Committee from the LTDC website at www.lincolnmadems.org/news-opinions.)
To the editor:
In order to have both declared U.S. Senatorial candidates (Ed Markey and Joe Kennedy) appear on the primary ballot, each candidate must have 10,000 signatures on their nomination papers by May 5. As of April 7, Ed Markey had 7,000 signatures and Joe Kennedy had 15,000 signatures — so as of that date, only Joe Kennedy had qualified.
If Lincoln Democrats and independents share our desire to have a contested election with both candidates on the ballot, please follow these steps:
- If you’re registered to vote as a Democrat or an unenrolled voter in Massachusetts, fill out this form to say you’re willing to add your name to get Markey on the ballot: EdMarkey.com/sign.
- The Markey team will mail you the official paperwork with instructions on what you need to do.
- Add your signature (and ask any other registered voters in your household to do the same).
- Mail it back to the Markey campaign in the stamped and pre-addressed envelope that they’ll send you.
That’s it. It’s fast and easy. And please help ASAP!
The Massachusetts State Committee is recommending that both candidates be on the ballot, as long as they have the required signatures on their nomination papers. Although the Lincoln Democratic Town Committee does not officially support candidates before the primary, we strongly believe in contested elections and offering voters a choice of qualified candidates. Therefore, we are writing and asking if you could sign Ed Markey’s nomination papers.
Sincerely,
Joan Kimball and Barbara Slayter
Co-chairs, Lincoln Democratic Town Committee