Many of you probably aren’t aware just what third party and independent candidates have to go through just to be on a ballot.
Take for example this year’s presidential election. A candidate running for president as an independent in 2008 would have to collect 867,134 signatures from voters in all 50 states in order to have his or her name printed on the Nov. 4 ballot.
By comparison, Republican and Democratic nominees have to collect a grand total of zero signatures to have their name printed on the ballot in all 50 states when Nov. 4 rolls around. That’s right. Zero.
Our own state of Georgia is one of the worst in the country when it comes to fair and open ballot access laws. In the Peach State, a candidate (other than a Democrat or Republican) would have to gather 42,489 signatures to be listed.
While it may sound easy to do, think about it for a minute. Try going up to a complete stranger and getting them to sign their name and address to something.
We have all become so jaded today most people first of all assume you are trying to sell them something. Second, even if they understand you aren’t selling anything or trying to scam them, they might not understand if you sign a petition to place Ralph Nader or Cynthia McKinney or the ballot, it doesn’t mean you don’t have to vote for them.
It’s a daunting task. Only Libertarian Party candidate Bob Barr will be on the ballot in Georgia this November along with John McCain and Barack Obama. The national Green Party attempted to gather enough signatures but fell way short. Nader didn’t even bother even though he did make a recent campaign appearance in Athens and spoke against Georgia’s unethical ballot access laws. Other political parties such as the Constitution Party also did not even bother to try and gain ballot access here because of the unreasonable number of signatures necessary.
So how can it be that Democrats and Republicans have no such requirements when other parties are shackled with such burdens? It’s simple. The Democrats and Republicans control things.
At this point, what can those who want open and fair elections in Georgia (remember ballot access goes for elections at the state and local level too.) Write your elected officials including our secretary of State Karen Handel. Let each of them know that you demand equal ballot access for all candidates, not just those who have an “R” or “D” by their name.
Having two choices is not enough in a country which is supposed to have open and fair elections. In fact, it is downright UnAmerican in my opinion.
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Several readers made comments about my column from last week wanting me to “cite my sources” concerning comments I made about the 2000 and 2004 presidential elections.
Ask and you shall receive:
“Unprecedented: The 2000 Presidential Election,” DVD documentary;
“Was the 2004 Presidential Election Stolen? Exit Polls, Election Fraud and the Official Count” by Steven F. Freeman and Joel Bleifuss;
“What Happened in Ohio? A Documentary Record of Theft & Fraud in the 2004 Election” by Robert J. Fitrakis, Steven Rosenfield and Harvey Wasserman;
“Down & Dirty: The Plot To Steal the Presidency” by Jake Tapper;
“State of Denial: Bush At War, Part III” by Bob Woodward.
Happy viewing and reading.
Chris Bridges is a reporter for The Banks County News. Contact him at 706-367-2745 or e-mail comments to chris@mainstreetnews.com.
