From the Free & Equal Elections Foundation:
Since 1964, not even one third party or independent candidate has appeared on the Georgia ballot for U.S. House of Representatives. In the last 10 years, Georgia has been the only state to have no minor party or independent candidates on the ballot for the office.
Georgia law requires that new party and independent candidates submit a petition signed by 5% of the number of registered voters, in order to get on the ballot for any office that is not statewide (such as Governor).
Meanwhile, Democrats and Republicans need collect no signatures whatsoever; they obtain access to the ballot by paying a filing fee. Independent candidates need to collect signatures and pay the filing fee.
On November 26, 2008, independent U.S House candidate Faye Coffield filed suit in U.S. District Court in Georgia, asking that the Georgia ballot access law for independent candidates for U.S. House of Representatives be declared unconstitutional. This case is now before the U.S. Supreme Court.
Along with the Center for Competitive Democracy and the Coalition for Free and Open Elections (COFOE), The Free and Equal Elections Foundation will submit an amicus brief in the case, known as Coffield v Kemp, in favor of reducing the requirement for ballot access.
Several prior candidates for the office of Congress are expected to join the case via amicus. The briefs are due to be filed Monday, December 6th. Free & Equal will release more information as it becomes publicly available.
Thanks Paulie. The only way it will have any chance of success is by uniting the people in support of it. Here’s a good start:
Amicus brief filed in Supreme Court for Georgia ballot access lawsuit
http://www.freeandequal.org/2010/12/amicus-brief-filed-in-supreme-court-for-georgia-ballot-access-lawsuit/
Hope the lawsuit works.
@3
Voter registration forms are free. Free speech is free. Electronic eballots are free.
A lot can be done for free, especially when we have the most mathematically perfect voting system available known, where people of all kinds (including Ds and Rs) can work together and make decisions on ballot access, etc.
It’s the dysfunctions of plurality elections and single winner districts that needs to be fixed.
Engaging in lawsuits makes those opposed to pure proportional representation stronger.
We have to build on what makes our army of PR stronger, not visa versa.
For example, those being sued receive free publicity and their lawyers get overtime pay for more work. I know, I’ve seen it happen myself. Filing an initiative, makes them stronger. And when lawyers make overtime pay, that’s a lot of good cash for them.
Suing over political things can sometimes be almost like throwing gasoline on a fire.
You know, it’s like the All Party System is on Normandy Beach, and we need coordinated efforts and decisions as an All Party Team.
The USA Parliament, Inc. has a satisfaction level of 99% plus 100 votes, and it is very fulfilling to see the smallest successes.
Having Independents go it alone can be nice, but it’s sad to see individual units get lost on ill-advised forays without proper groundwork and coordination from a larger Allied Central Command type of structure.
* * *
Join the Frees,
opposite gender #1
“GoNott Advertise is better than Google’s ads,
because it’s owned by The USA Parliament, Inc.;
A coalition of Americans united for the purpose of establishing truly representative government.
Why do you THINK they called it Google?”
Draft A Female/Nott for President!
A female #1, and Nott #2
(for male voters)
Everyone is invited to the party,
the programmer is Nott!
We’re Nott Libertarians!
See the ad “Draft Nott/A Female for Prez/VP in 2012″
A coalition for Libertarian Party females on the USA Parliament’s web page; http://www.usparliament.org/
Go Free Soil Party,
Free Ireland!
In Coalition with;
MP Don Grundmann [Constitution] for US Senate in 2012, PLUS at least one US Senate Candidate in every state/super-state state.
http://www.truthusa.org
Get the Swing vote in 2012!
MP Gary Swing [Green] for Senate in CO!
* * *
GoNott our ad for 2014;
http://usparliament.org/drafts/coalition7CA2014.html
#2- I don’t disagree with what you say but where would the funds come from? It seems to me that funding is a major obstacle for all minor parties and their supporters.
I think it is great that Free & Equal filed this lawsuit.
Third Party and independent activists should consider devoting attention to: Ballot Access Laws, coalitions with third parties for basic justice in electoral laws, nurturing lawyers and law firms to care about third parties, perhaps giving scholarships or support to young people to consider careers as third party lawyers, third party campaign workers, and/or third party politicians.
As founders of the Free and Equal Party, we look forward to working with all Independents in the future within The USA Parliament, Inc.
The Free and Equal Party recieved 2% of the vote in the 2010 “5th California Parliament Election”.
See our members’ names at;
http://www.usparliament.org/ss11.htm
* * *
Join the Frees,
opposite gender #1
Our ads are better than Google’s ads,
are they really worth it to your goals?
Draft A Female/Nott for President!
A female #1, and Nott #2
(for male voters)
Everyone is invited to the party,
the programmer is Nott!
We’re Nott Libertarians!
“Why do you THINK they called it Google?”
See the ad “Draft Nott/A Female for Prez/VP in 2012?, a coalition for Libertarian Party females on the USA Parliament’s web page; http://www.usparliament.org/
Go Free Soil Party,
Free Ireland!
In Coalition with;
MP Don Grundmann [Constitution] for US Senate in 2012, PLUS at least one US Senate Candidate in every state/super-state state.
Get the Swing vote in 2012!
MP Gary Swing [Green] for Senate in CO!
MP Don Grundmann [Constitution] for US Senate in 2012!
http://www.truthusa.org
* * *
GoNott our ad for 2014;
http://usparliament.org/drafts/coalition7CA2014.html