Recently, Pennsylvania state officials filed briefs in each of the two pending ballot access cases. Here is the brief in Constitution Party of Pennsylvania v Aichele, a case over the Pennsylvania system of putting petitioning groups at risk of paying court costs of up to $110,000 if they submit a petition that lacks enough signatures.
Here is the brief in Green Party of Pennsylvania v Aichele, which challenges many other ballot access laws, including the ban on out-of-state circulators. Both cases are in U.S. District Court in the eastern district. Each case has a separate judge.
I have never heard in my life of someone being made to pay the court costs when someone else sues you for doing nothing wrong but exercise your rights.
The liberal/leftist Agenda in this nation, do nothing but pay people to sit up at night thinking of ways they can intimidate the common citizens into getting in lock step with the ruling power.
The Liberal/Leftist Agenda in this nation has decided that you and I do not have a right to an opinion, and if we do, it is somehow based on “hate” and therefore such must be crushed even if it means sending you or I to prison.
This is exactly where it is headed. I just had some telephone exchanges this AM with a young man who ran as an Independent for a Alabama House Seat, and even though he lost, he has learned of voters who wanted to vote for him, but came to learn his name was not on the ballot. One election official is reported to have suggested to this young man’s supporter, they should instead go ahead and vote the Democratic ticket.
I realize the latter statement may or may not be true. But knowing the past history of voting in Alabama over the past decades, it is a fact that some election officials would have insisted that voter cast a straight party ticket. We still have a few people in Alabama who think they are superior to other races, and that they are the only ones who have the right to vote, and should someone of an “inferior race” come in to vote, it is our duty to make sure they vote a certain ticket or for a certain candidate, unless it is determined they should be bellowed to vote at all.
For 2015, I am dedicated work for and support free and open elections in Alabama. I trust other readers of B.A.N. will join with me in this noble cause for justice.
Something Alabama residents can do quite soon for better ballot access is to sit in the audience in federal court in Montgomery, Alabama on Friday, Nov. 21. The Frank Johnson federal courthouse is at One Church Street, but the entrance is on 15 Lee Street. Court starts at 9 a.m. The 11th circuit will be hearing Stein v Bennett, the Libertarian-Green-Constitution Party case over the March petition deadline for newly-qualifying parties in presidential election years. Judges do notice how many people attend. When no one sits in the audience, that is a signal there isn’t much public interest in the issue.
We can’t predict which case will be heard first. There are four or five cases that day. Each case lasts 30 minutes.
Richard:
Being retired, I have to watch my pennies like a hawk. While Montgomery is only a 5 hour round trip for me, I can’t guarantee you I can be in attendance. And while such may be even less an excuse, my medical condition is not as good as it was the last time you and I met. There are days I hardly leave my bedroom except to go eat and work at the computer for a while.
If the issue before the Court was over the petition percentages, I might be more inclined to scrap up my nickels and attend. But I don’t see this case (early petition deadline) as a “do or die” for the 3rd party/Independent movement. What we need is a case challenging petitions as the only manner 3rd parties and Independents can qualify for the General Election Ballot. Has anyone ever thought about challenging this? Has anyone ever asked the Court, why can’t 3rd party or Independent candidates simply pay a filing fee equal to or no less than the fees paid by the major party candidates? I would help get the Courtroom packed if we could get such a case like this before a Judge.
If I see I can attend, I will let you know. But if I can’t attend, I trust this case turns out in “our” favor, as any victory – small or great – for the 3rd party/Independent movement is a good victory.