Ballot Access and Voting

Submitted by HenryAWallace on Thu, 08/04/2016 - 10:58am

On June 8, 2016, the Green Party supposedly was seeking ballot access in all 50 states.

http://www.counterpunch.org/2016/06/08/green-party-seeks-2016-ballot-acc...

On July 10, 2016, the Green Party reported that it had achieved ballot access in 24 states.

The map below shows the Green Party's ballot access status for 2016 (the Presidential election). As of July 10, 2016, we are on the ballot in 24 states and the District of Columbia, reaching over 60% of the population. Another 30% of the population is in states where we have active ballot access campaigns. Expect to see more states turning green soon. And in states where the remaining 10% of the population lives, we are working to have the courts overturn their draconian ballot access requirements.

http://www.gp.org/ballotaccess

However, according to the map that accompanied this announcement, apparently, the Green Party still had gained ballot access in only 23 states, plus Washington, D.C.

On August 1, 2016 (August 1 being a deadline for ballot access in some states), the Green Party issued a press release stating it was (still) on the ballot in (only) 23 states and Washington, D.C.

The Green Party now has ballot access in 23 states, are awaiting government certification for 9 more (including the six states mentioned here), and have active petition drives in 15 more states.

http://www.snopes.com/green-party-state-ballots/

One of the things the left needs to do after this election, if not sooner, is hit our state senators and representatives hard about making ballot access requirements (a) less onerous and (b) more uniform from state to state, so that newer political parties have a better shot.

While we are at it, we need to fight in every state for open primaries, easier voter registration everywhere and more reasonable deadlines for voter registration. Democrats in variously will likely be fighting for closed primaries everywhere and even less ballot access.

Why on earth do people whose salaries I pay, such as my state legislators and my Governor, believe they have the right to restrict ballot access and primary voting in a primary for which I pay? Perhaps because I've allowed them to believe it? No more.

Tags: 
Green Party primaries state ballot access and voting laws
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Submitted by sojourns on Thu, 08/04/2016 - 11:11am
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being a self-serving jack ass is part of their job description.

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Submitted by lunachickie on Thu, 08/04/2016 - 11:53am
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that they got on six more ballots. Were they lying?

Chances are real good they don't have a full-time webmaster. Sorry, we can't have everything in an instant....

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Submitted by sojourns on Thu, 08/04/2016 - 3:25pm
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Did I make a mistake?

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Submitted by HenryAWallace on Fri, 08/05/2016 - 12:29am

As my diary indicated, the latest info in the diary was as of an August 1 press release that stated they were awaiting info from several states. If you have information dated later than August 1, lying would not be an issue.

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Submitted by HenryAWallace on Fri, 08/05/2016 - 12:36am

My hope is that the DNC perfidy in this primary awoke a sleeping giant that wants to help change state ballot access laws and primary voting laws to make both more democratic, instead of merely protective of the Democratic Party and the Republican Party, but prohibitive to newer parties.

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Submitted by dkmich on Thu, 08/04/2016 - 11:46am

We get to pay their compensation and vote for the lesser of evils they give us.

I have never been more cynical and negative in my life as a result of this primary. I am on the verge of saying screw it and never voting again. I just need to pillage with the rest of them.

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Submitted by HenryAWallace on Fri, 08/05/2016 - 12:37am

http://caucus99percent.com/content/ballot-access-and-voting#comment-149411

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Submitted by mouselander on Thu, 08/04/2016 - 12:47pm
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This table is from the Wikipedia page detailing the results of the 2012 election. Four years ago the Green Party managed to qualify for the ballot in 36 states (plus DC), and reached over 83 percent of the electorate. Given the party's higher profile in the current campaign, it would be a great surprise to me if the Greens failed to at least match the level of access they achieved in 2012.

BallotAccess.png

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Submitted by blue drop on Thu, 08/04/2016 - 1:13pm

Four years ago the Green Party managed to qualify for the ballot in 36 states (plus DC)

they have to qualify again and again with each election? does the Democratic and Republican party have to go through the same process of qualifying to get on a ballot?

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Submitted by mouselander on Thu, 08/04/2016 - 2:40pm
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Here's a little blurb from a website called Ballotpedia:

In order to become ballot-qualified, a party must meet certain requirements. For example, in some states, a party's candidate for a specific office must win a certain percentage of the vote in order for the party to be ballot-qualified in the state. In other states, a political party must register a certain number of voters in order to achieve ballot status.

If a party successfully petitions for inclusion on a state ballot, then fails to meet the state's requirements for a given election, it's ballot-qualified status is revoked and it has to go through the petition process all over again. A very neat and effective way of protecting the duopoly's franchise.

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Submitted by HenryAWallace on Fri, 08/05/2016 - 12:32am

This is one of several reasons we need to work to change state laws on ballot access and primary voting.

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Submitted by HenryAWallace on Fri, 08/05/2016 - 12:44am

The Green Party will either qualify in as many states as previously or it won't. One underlying problem that this primary and general election season highlighted, however, is that state laws about ballot access and primary voting need to be changed and I am hoping that at least some of us will fight that battle.

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Submitted by elenacarlena on Thu, 08/04/2016 - 2:38pm
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states, now they have to wait for the government. The guvmint takes the petitions and checks signatures to make sure they're of registered voters (signature collectors take names and addresses to ensure people can be properly identified). The campaign asks people to sign only if registered but has no way to check, but gathers at least 30% more signatures than the minimum needed, to cover any that may not be registered that the guvmint decides not to count.

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Submitted by HenryAWallace on Fri, 08/05/2016 - 12:48am

http://caucus99percent.com/comment/149411#comment-149411

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Submitted by elenacarlena on Fri, 08/05/2016 - 6:38am
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We do need easier access, you're right. Before I worry about that, though, I want all voting machines to have paper trails so the vote counts can be verified.

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Submitted by HenryAWallace on Fri, 08/05/2016 - 9:37am

If you are (or anyone is) going to your state legislature (or to people to sign a petition) for anything related to voting, why not go with a "Democracy Bundle," or some such, consisting paper of ballots (my preference) or voting machines with paper trails, plus easier ballot access plus easier voter registration, plus open primaries?

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Submitted by elenacarlena on Fri, 08/05/2016 - 11:03am
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and energy, have to prioritize. But it does all fit neatly together into a "Democracy Bundle," so might be doable by your method.

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Submitted by Borkrom on Thu, 08/04/2016 - 3:23pm
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Both major parties have fixed the system to prevent any other viable contenders to join the "party"- pun intended.

To me it a load of crap that there are thresholds (barriers) to prevent new political parties to grow and prosper.

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Submitted by HenryAWallace on Fri, 08/05/2016 - 12:49am

http://caucus99percent.com/comment/149411#comment-149411

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Submitted by Hawkfish on Thu, 08/04/2016 - 6:52pm
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Map.

Another 8 states have filed petitions. 14 have active petition drives and the other 2 had missed deadlines.

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Submitted by HenryAWallace on Fri, 08/05/2016 - 9:43am

http://caucus99percent.com/comment/149050#comment-149050
also....

http://www.commondreams.org/newswire/2016/08/01/green-party-gains-ballot...

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Submitted by HenryAWallace on Fri, 08/05/2016 - 12:51am

We need to work within our own states to change ballot access laws and primary voting laws.

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