The Athens Banner-Herald, of Athens, Georgia, ran this op-ed on September 17, by Jeffrey Moss. Moss deplored Georgia’s ballot access laws, which have kept all minor party candidates for U.S. House off the ballot (in regularly-scheduled elections) ever since 1942. The op-ed provoked lots of comments. The very first comment, by someone nicknamed Cornish530, has every standard misconception about ballot access for minor parties.

Cornish530 says it is fair to require candidates, other than Democrats and Republicans, to submit a hefty petition, because the Democrats and Republicans must win a primary in order to get on the November ballot. The commenter forgets that individuals who want the nomination of a minor party also must sometimes fight for that party’s nomination, whether it is made by primary or convention. For example, think of the bitter, fierce struggle in the Reform Party national convention in 2000, between Pat Buchanan and John Hagelin, or the somewhat more muted Green Party national convention fight between supporters of David Cobb and supporters of Ralph Nader.

Also, Cornish530 says that Democrats and Republicans must pay a large filing fee. But, as one of the later commenters says, all candidates in Georgia pay that same large fee, but of course the non-major party members must also complete a 5% petition (if running for district or county office) as well as pay that fee.