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Petitions are a
Poll Tax for Minority Candidates: Unequal Ballot Access in American Politics
By Donna Walker Mancini
April 4, 2004
There appears to be tremendous concern for EQUAL access to the " ballot box", in
America, but little or NO concern for EQUAL access to the BALLOT itself , except
by a few of us who desire to run for office as “minority” individuals not
affiliated with the Republican or Democratic Party. The First Amendment
guarantees the right of Every American to petition the government for a redress
of grievances, as well as freedom of speech, the press, and religion. Is
"religion" not the expression of a person’s beliefs or philosophy?
I contend that the equal right of
ALL
citizens to run
for public office is the personification of The American Ideal of Government. I
contend that America is suffering because of unconstitutional Ballot access
requirements.
Individuals, not "parties", run for political office. Parties are groups of
people who generally support the individual candidates. Would people be able to
be treated differently because of race, religion, gender or sexual orientation?
I think not. Why political philosophy or affiliations?
Why should "Minorities" have to collect signatures on petitions, because of who
we associate with or what we believe? Is that not the same as a “poll tax"?
Also, people are very uneasy about giving information to strangers, and rightly
so! Ballot access petitions even ask that you give your social security
Number......
This is a totally outrageous request!
In Addition, Federal Election Commissions rules and regulations and Campaign
Finance Laws serve to protect incumbents and eliminate competition.
FEC laws are thousands of pages long, and so complex and intimidating, that one
needs legal advice to interpret them. Election laws threaten huge fines and
criminal penalties including prison time. Should we not have simple rules that
do not have to be " tested in court", that encourage, not discourage, citizen
involvement in government?
Common sense says Individuals should be able to run for office and try to make a
difference without being AFRAID of breaking some obscure law and going to jail
or being fined big bucks.
The "chilling effect" is to keep ordinary people from participating in the
political process, which goes against the traditional concept of democracy or
government by the people, for the people.
We have no choice in America with Political candidates! The Republicans and the
Democrats are the flip side of the same "big government" coin. That’s why so few
people bother to vote anymore. Ask around. Conduct your OWN poll.
What good is access to the Ballot Box if there is no one on the BALLOT worth
voting For?
Donna Mancini
Chairman of the Libertarian Party of KY
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