Appeals Court Refuses to Add Perry to Va. Ballot

A federal appeals court has rejected Texas Gov. Rick Perry's bid to be placed on Virginia's Republican presidential primary ballot.

A three-judge panel of the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals unanimously agreed with a lower court that Perry and three other candidates challenged Virginia's ballot access law too late.

"I am pleased with the Fourth Circuit ruling and that Virginia's orderly election process will be able to move forward," Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli said.

Perry sued last month after failing to submit the 10,000 voter signatures required to get on the March 6 ballot. Newt Gingrich, Ron Santorum and Jon Huntsman also failed to qualify and joined the lawsuit. Only former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney and Texas Congressman Ron Paul qualified.

A federal judge said Friday that one key provision of Virginia's ballot access law is probably unconstitutional, but Perry waited too long to challenge it.

Copyright AP - Associated Press
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