The ACLU in many states has been a strong proponent of tolerant ballot access for minor parties and independent candidates. The ACLU litigates on behalf of ballot access, and to a somewhat lesser extent lobbies for better ballot access. However, the ACLU has not handled any minor party or independent ballot access constitutional lawsuits in Ohio during the last 30 years, nor has it been active lobbying in the Ohio legislature on this issue in the past few decades.

However, the Ohio ACLU will send a representative to the October 8 hearing in the State Senate Committee on Government Oversight and Reform, when that committee again hears SB 193. The ACLU representative is expected to testify that changing the ballot access requirements at this point in the 2014 petitioning cycle violates fairness and due process. Thanks to Kevin Knedler for this news.