[Sosfbay-discuss] Green Parties Drive for Ballot Access Across the US

[JamBoi]

One of the most difficult tasks a 'third party' in the US faces is
obtaining state by state ballot access in the face of intense
opposition by the Corporate Duopoly parties.  In some states (I think
including CA) if the affiliated state Green Party doesn't run a
nominated presidential 
candidate (ie. not just an 'endorsed' candidate) or in some cases a
gubnatorial, and in others a statewide candidate (the rules are
different in each state) then the the party loses ballot access.  

This can mean that the party then has to acquire a large number of
signatures.  This can even be a very unreasonably large number of
signatures in just a few weeks time such as in Pennsylvania where The
Duopoly requires third parties to come up with 67,000 validated
signatures (translate this as 100,000 signatures after The Duopoly
lawyers finish challenging every single signature as a further way to
harrass the third party).

Ballot access is a precious commodity that empowers a third party to
function and be viable.  The Green Party of TX was not able to achieve
ballot access this year despite a full slate of candidates and
enthusiastic organization.  Think of how devastating this is for the
Green Party's 2008 prospects!  We Greens must pay careful attention to
maintaining and expanding our ballot access as we mature our party and
move towards becoming a potent political player in the heart of The
Empire.  We can impact the entire world for the good by dotting our i's
and crossing our t's to make certain we have ballot access in all 50
states and serious challenger to The Duopoly parties.

A Million Votes for Peace!

Drew

http://gp.org/press/pr_2006_09_05.shtml
Press Release

Greens Win Ballot Access in 31 States, Up From 17 in January

Green Party of the United States
www.gp.org

Tuesday, September 5, 2006

Contacts:
Scott McLarty, Media Coordinator, 202-518-5624, mclarty at greens.org 
Starlene Rankin, Media Coordinator, 916-995-3805, starlene at greens.org 

Greens win ballot access fights in Arkansas, Illinois, Nebraska, New
York

    * Greens achieve ballot access in 31 states -- up from 17 states in
January
    * 'Grossly unfair' ballot access rules hinder Greens in
Pennsylvania
    * Many Green candidates now face obstruction from debates in
California, Ohio, Wisconsin, and other states

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Green Party candidates have overcome numerous
obstacles to have their names placed on the ballot in several states,
including Arkansas, Illinois, Nebraska, and New York. In many races,
Greens are now battling exclusion from candidates' debates.

In Pennsylvania, Greens have faced the most dramatic obstruction, as a
result of patently unfair ballot access rules (2,000 petition
signatures required for Democrats and Republicans; 67,000 for other
parties) and a lawsuit filed by Democrats seeking to disqualify many of
the 95,000 signatures submitted by Marakay Rogers (running for Governor
<http://www.geocities.com/mjr91/RogersforAG.html>), Christina Valente
(for Lieutenant Governor <http://www.christina-green.org>), and Carl
Romanelli (for U.S. Senate <http://www.romanelli2006.com>). Because
defending their petitions would cost tens of thousands of dollars and
the candidates risk being bankrupted by a judgment for the challengers'
attorneys' fees and costs, Ms. Rogers and Ms. Valente have withdrawn
their petitions; Mr. Romanelli has vowed to fight the challenge and is
now protesting his exclusion from a September 3 senatorial candidates'
debate to be broadcast on MSNBC's 'Meet the Press.'

"Pennsylvania's grossly unfair ballot access laws, passed by Democrats
and Republicans, should be considered a conspiracy against voters,
limiting their choices on the ballot. Equally outrageous are the
tactics that Pennsylvania Democrats are using to bar Greens, through
legal and financial intimidation -- proving that Democratic politicians
are just as willing as Republicans to rig the ballot box," said Marakay
Rogers.

The Green Party currently has 31 state ballot lines (including the
District of Columbia). In January, 2006, the Green Party had 17 state
ballot lines.

Arkansas

Secretary of State Charlie Daniels certified the Green Party as a
recognized political party in Arkansas after an August 23, 2006 ruling
by the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Arkansas ordered
the inclusion of Greens. Arkansas Greens have nominated six candidates
for statewide races, including Jim Lendall, former Democratic State
Representative, for Governor. The nominees must file their certificates
of nomination with the Secretary of State's office by September 8 to
appear on the November ballot.
http://www.jimlendall2006.com 
http://www.arkgreens.org

California

Gubernatorial candidate Peter Camejo is seeking inclusion despite the
League of Women Voters decision to restrict the debates to candidates
who receive over 10% in the polls. When Mr. Camejo participated in a
televised debate in the 2003 election, he was widely perceived as the
winner, according to informal polls of media outlets and viewers. The
Camejo campaign has filed a complaint with the Fair Political Practices
Commission.
http://www.votecamejo.com 
http://www.cagreens.org 

Illinois

The Illinois State Board of Elections ruled unanimously on August 31 to
place the Green Party state slate in the November general election,
after a vigorous attempt by Illinois Democrats to have Green
candidates' ballot petitions invalidated in order to keep them off the
state ballot. Illinois Green candidates Rich Whitney, running for
Governor, and Julie Samuels, for Lieutenant Governor, were certified on
September 1.

Greens were required to to collect 25,000 signatures in just 90 days --
five times the number of signatures that Democratic and Republican
candidates had to collect -- to qualify for the ballot. Greens
collected over 39,000. Greens were then forced to hire a ballot defense
coordinator and pay for legal services to defend their petitions after
Illinois Democrats used their staffing and monetary advantage to
challenge the petitions before the State Board. Greens are now
attempting to persuade the Illinois Radio Network to reverse its
decision excluding Mr. Whitney from its October 2 debate.
http://www.whitneyforgov.org 
http://www.ilgp.org

Nebraska

The Nebraska Green Party was initially denied ballot access for its
statewide candidates by the Secretary of State. After several weeks of
delay involving intense discussions with Greens, the ACLU and
legislators, Greens were granted ballot access for statewide
constitutional offices, with Green candidates Steve Larrick for State
Auditor and Doug Paterson for Secretary of State on the ballot on
November 7.
http://www.nebraskagreens.org 

New York

On August 22, Malachy McCourt, candidate for Governor, and other New
York Green candidates delivered petitions to the Board of Elections in
Albany to place them on the November 7 ballot. The campaigns submitted
30,000 signatures, double the required 15,000 needed -- demonstrating
that voters want a choice when they go to the polls, a choice that
includes candidates who support peace, abolition of the death penalty,
bringing home the New York National Guard, and health care for all. The
members of the Green Party's New York Peace Slate include Mr. McCourt
for Governor; Alison Duncan for Lt. Governor; Howie Hawkins for U.S.
Senate; Attorney General candidate Rachel Treichler; and State
Comptroller candidate Julia Willebrand.

The party must achieve 50,000 votes in the Governor's race to regain
automatic ballot status. New York Greens fell slightly short of the
50,000 votes for Governor in 2002 to maintain ballot status, although
Attorney General candidate Mary Jo Long exceeded the 50,000. New York
Green ballot-qualified candidates are currently negotiating with the
League of Women Voters of New York for inclusion in debates for the
offices of U.S. Senator from New York, Governor,and Attorney General.

http://www.malachyforgovernor.com 
http://www.alisonduncan.org 
http://www.hawkinsforsenate.org 
http://www.voterachel.org 
http://www.juliaforcomptroller.org 
http://www.gpnys.org 

Ohio

Green gubernatorial candidate Bob Fitrakis has joined a Libertarian and
a write-in to fight their exclusion from four debates, from which the
Democrats and Republicans are barring all other candidates. Mr.
Fitrakis and the other two candidates will be in Youngstown on
September 5 for the first of the debates, and are also planning to hold
their own debates in Toledo, Dayton, and Akron (which Democrats and
Republicans have omitted from the debate schedule). Mr. Fitrakis will
invite the Democrats and Republicans to attend the 'third party'
debates, which will be co-sponsored by Common Cause.
http://www.bobforohio.com 
http://www.ohiogreens.org 

Wisconsin

Wisconsin Greens are protesting a decision by the We the People
consortium (Wisconsin State Journal, WISC-TV, Wisconsin Public Radio,
Wisconsin Public Television, Wood Communications, WisPolitics.com,
along with corporate and interest group sponsors) to bar third party
candidates, including gubernatorial candidate Nelson Eisman, from
candidates' debates according to arbitrary poll-based and fundraising
criteria. The League of Women Voters (which sponsored debates in years
past), the Wisconsin Democracy Campaign and Common Cause in Wisconsin
have joined Greens in the call for Mr. Eisman's inclusion.
http://www.voteEisman.org 
http://www.wisconsingreenparty.org 

MORE INFORMATION

Green Party of the United States
http://www.gp.org 
1700 Connecticut Avenue NW, Suite 404
Washington, DC 20009.
202-319-7191, 866-41GREEN
Fax 202-319-7193

Green campaign listings, news, photos, and web sites
www.gp.org/2006elections 
Database of 2006 Green candidates www.greens.org/elections 
Video clips of Green candidates www.gp.org/2006elections/media.shtml 
Green Party News Center www.gp.org/newscenter.shtml 

JamBoi
Jammy The Sacred Cow Slayer

"Live humbly, laugh often and love unconditionally" (anon)
http://dailyJam.blogspot.com

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