The Free & Equal Elections Foundation is holding a series of “meet-ups” across the nation to coordinate and discuss ballot access hurdles.

Founder and Chairman of the Board Christina Tobin traveled to the northwest for the first two meet-ups. The first was held in  Seattle, WA on Wednesday February 11th.

The topic of discussion was the  Washington State Top-Two Primary, and the devastating effect the law has on independent and third party candidates. Free & Equal has identified reforming this particularly egregious Washington law as a top priority.

The second meet-up took place in Portland, OR on Thursday February  12th. Dan Meek, a champion of Oregon ballot access, discussed the hurdles to ballot access in Oregon, and how to combat them.

Also in attendance at the Portland meetup was election law attorney Orin Grover. Grover has taken over as head consul for the Top-Two Primary lawsuit in Washington state.

Following the west-coast trip, a meetup was held in Free & Equal’s hometown of Chicago on February 19th. Attendees included former Ralph Nader campaign manager Teresa Amato, Libertarian state Chair Dave Brady, and national Green Party vice-chair Phil Huckleberry.

The next meetup is scheduled for San Francisco on March 12th, 2009. Ballot Access expert Richard Winger will host the event.