April 26, 2016 03:51 PM UTC

Keyser Ballot Rejection Court Challenge Races Ahead

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• by: Colorado Pols

UPDATE: No ruling today says the Denver Post’s John Frank:

Judge says she will issue ruling in next 72 hours before ballot needs to be certified Friday. #copolitics

— John Frank (@ByJohnFrank) April 26, 2016

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A hearing for embattled GOP U.S. Senate candidate Jon Keyser, who was unexpectedly thrown off the 2016 primary ballot this week after Secretary of State Wayne Williams determined he did not submit enough valid petition signatures in CD-3, is getting under way right now in Denver District Court. From Keyser’s filing:

Due to the Secretary’s breach/neglect of duty or other wrongful act, Mr. Keyser was wrongfully deprived of a place on the primary election ballot for the Republican Party’s nomination for United States Senator.

Here’s the court filing. Keyser’s rejection appears to boil down to a (presumably paid) petition circulator who was not properly registered as required under Colorado election law, and resulted in the invalidation of signatures collected by that circulator. Keyser’s response is never mind those pesky details:

WHEREFORE, Petitioner prays for judgment and relief as follows:

A. For an order requiring the Secretary to comply with the Colorado Elections Code by accepting the Keyser petitions circulated by Tyler Gonzalez and all otherwise valid signatures thereon;

B. For an order requiring the Secretary to place Jon Keyser’s name on the Republican primary election ballot for United States Senator;

C. In the absence of an order requiring the Secretary to accept the Keyser petitions circulated by Tyler Gonzalez, an order continuing the proceeding on this Verified Petition for no longer than four business days to allow the Keyser Campaign to supplement this Verified Petition on the basis of additional wrongfully rejected signatures before the deadline under C.R.S. §§ 1-4-909 and 1-1-113; and

D. For such other and further relief as the Court deems just and proper.

We’ll update when we hear what happens in court this afternoon.