What should be the requirement for ballot access?
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  What should be the requirement for ballot access?
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Question: The requirement for appearing on the ballot should be:
#1
gathering signatures from people/voters/etc
 
#2
gathering signatures from elected officials
 
#3
paying a filing fee
 
#4
something else
 
#5
there should be no requirements
 
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Author Topic: What should be the requirement for ballot access?  (Read 2529 times)
greenforest32
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« on: June 08, 2012, 10:30:15 PM »

For individual candidates and parties.

Should there be ballot access restrictions? If so, what should they be based on? Money (high filing fees), popular support (requiring a certain % of signatures from voters), or something else?

What do you think?
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Brandon H
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« Reply #1 on: June 08, 2012, 11:04:55 PM »

At one point in time, there were no ballots; everything was write-in. Sometimes I wonder if that was a better system than what we have now.
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Redalgo
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« Reply #2 on: June 08, 2012, 11:21:01 PM »
« Edited: June 08, 2012, 11:26:43 PM by Redalgo »

I guess it would depend on the type of race but if I had to choose one method to apply in all instances it would be to either: (a.) get signatures from at least 1% of eligible voters for that election, (b.) get the endorsement of a political party whose members include at least 1% of eligible voters for that election, or (c.) to have previously held the contested office in question.*

*Though I suppose that would actually have to be waived in any instances of there being term limitations.
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True Federalist (진정한 연방 주의자)
Ernest
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« Reply #3 on: June 09, 2012, 01:57:17 PM »

I'd prefer a hybrid scheme.

For parties that wish to be registered parties, 2.5% of the registered voters sign a petition or vote for that party in a recent major election.
For individuals that wish to be on a ballot as an independent (or an unregistered party), 1% of the registered voters sign a petition.
For individuals who wish to run in the primary or caucus of a registered party, pay a filing fee.
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FEMA Camp Administrator
Cathcon
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« Reply #4 on: June 09, 2012, 02:05:04 PM »

Money for the ink and or paper on the ballot, I guess. Speaking as someone who would just love ballot access rules to go out the window (along with qualifications for office), that's about the only requirement that there should be.
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tpfkaw
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« Reply #5 on: June 09, 2012, 02:41:26 PM »

One of the things third parties have to struggle with is that ballot access requirements are unevenly enforced - the deadlines, fees, signature requirements etc. are all draconianly enforced to the letter with minor parties, but the Republicans and Democrats are able to completely ignore them and the Secretary of State will put them on the ballot anyway.  More than anything there should be a requirement that all parties must comply with the same ballot access rules.
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Marokai Backbeat
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« Reply #6 on: June 09, 2012, 08:57:25 PM »

One of the things third parties have to struggle with is that ballot access requirements are unevenly enforced - the deadlines, fees, signature requirements etc. are all draconianly enforced to the letter with minor parties, but the Republicans and Democrats are able to completely ignore them and the Secretary of State will put them on the ballot anyway.  More than anything there should be a requirement that all parties must comply with the same ballot access rules.

But whatever would happen to states' rights?
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Free Palestine
FallenMorgan
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« Reply #7 on: June 09, 2012, 11:03:40 PM »

None

To cope with the deluge of candidates, use electronic voting machines, or print longer ballots.  Too cumbersome?  Deal with it.  Inefficiency is the cost of a truly free society.
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True Federalist (진정한 연방 주의자)
Ernest
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« Reply #8 on: June 09, 2012, 11:42:06 PM »

None

To cope with the deluge of candidates, use electronic voting machines, or print longer ballots.  Too cumbersome?  Deal with it.  Inefficiency is the cost of a truly free society.

The whole raison d'etre of government is to provide the efficiency that pure anarchy cannot.  There is no compelling benefit to having 200 candidate ballots instead of 20 candidate ballots.  So long as the requirements are not so hefty as to limit the choices to a select few, they are beneficial as they make the task of selecting our government something that the average citizen will have the time to make an informed decision on.
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tpfkaw
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« Reply #9 on: June 10, 2012, 02:19:25 AM »

One of the things third parties have to struggle with is that ballot access requirements are unevenly enforced - the deadlines, fees, signature requirements etc. are all draconianly enforced to the letter with minor parties, but the Republicans and Democrats are able to completely ignore them and the Secretary of State will put them on the ballot anyway.  More than anything there should be a requirement that all parties must comply with the same ballot access rules.

But whatever would happen to states' rights?

I don't support federal legislation on ballot access obviously.
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minionofmidas
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« Reply #10 on: June 10, 2012, 04:06:20 AM »

A few hundred signatures for all parties that didn't get half a percent last time.
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Antonio the Sixth
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« Reply #11 on: June 10, 2012, 04:09:49 AM »

Citizen signatures would be the fairest system.
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Platypus
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« Reply #12 on: June 10, 2012, 09:11:42 AM »

I think, from memory, that you need 50 electors to get on the ballot for the Commonwealth parliament here, which more or less squeezes out complete jokes but still gives access to anyone who want it enough. The system is rarely if ever abused, depending on whether you call the CEC abuse or not.
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Supersonic
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« Reply #13 on: June 10, 2012, 05:09:06 PM »

Voter signatures and a filing fee.
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