Free and Equal Radio Show – 8/3/2010
Free & Equal Radio Tuesday Night 9pm to 11pm Central Time. (7-9pm PT) Michael White starts off the show. He is the Constitution Party candidate for Governor of Illinois, and participated in Free and Equal’s debate for IL Governor. Their petitions are being challenged. Michael will update us on his campaign and how the Constitution [...]
Christina Tobin to Speak at 2010 Global Forum on Modern Direct Democracy
Important information about the 2010 Global Forum on Modern Direct Democracy from the Christina Tobin for California Secretary of State website. Free and Equal Elections Foundation is one of the sponsors of this awesome event and we encourage everyone to check it out. The logo and link for this event is also at the top [...]
We Appreciate Your Support!
Dear Supporter, American democracy is under threat like never before. California’s ‘Top Two’ system, which excludes all but the two most well-funded candidates from the general election ballot, threatens to spread across the nation. Powerful lobbyists are convincing state legislatures to make the petitioning process even more restrictive and the U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling in [...]
Free & Equal on Blog Talk Radio – Illinois challenge edition
Tonight 10pm-12am Eastern: Challenged Illinois candidates William Dock Walls (Independent for Governor), Randall C. Stufflebeam (Constitution Party candidate for US Senate), Lex Green (Libertarian for Governor), Julie Fox (Libertarian for Controller) and more tonight! Not to mention Free & Equal doyenne Christina Tobin! Challengers Sharon Ann Meroni and Sherman also invited! Call in 347-633-9636. Listen [...]
Free & Equal: Cook County Republicans following George Ryan’s political playbook
Christina Tobin, founder of Free and Equal Elections Foundation, released a statement today in response to an email recently put out by the Cook County Republicans on behalf of the Illinois Republican Party. The email started with a shocking admission by Illinois Republicans that they intend to challenge candidates’ petitions based on the potential political [...]
Free and Equal Issues Statement in Response to Recent Texas Media Reports
Free and Equal Elections is proud to stand next to the Green Party of Texas today to release this joint statement concerning Texas media reports involving Boyd Ritchie’s anti-democratic attack on the Green Party’s recent petition drive in Texas. The statement from Free and Equal Founder and Chair Christina Tobin follows: “Boyd Ritchie’s anti-democratic and [...]
MEDIA ADVISORY: Green Party of Texas Holds Press Conference and Turns in over 90,000 Signatures to Secretary of State on Monday
WHAT The Green Party of Texas will turn in over 90,000 signatures on Monday, in an effort to get the party on the Texas General Election ballot this fall. The Green Party was knocked off the ballot by the Democratic Party in 2002. This is the first time the Green Party has achieved ballot access [...]
Protecting the Privacy Rights of Petition Signers
Do petition signers have a constitutional right to keep their names undisclosed? Or should their support of various initiatives be made public? Without a doubt, keep the names private. Currently before the U.S. Supreme Court is a case named Doe v. Reed. At issue is whether or not the names of people who signed an [...]
Illinois ballot access tyrannical, switch to filing fees imperative
Chicago – Free & Equal Election Law Attorney Andrew Spiegel is drafting a legislative proposal that would replace all Illinois signature requirements with modest filing fees. This would apply to all candidates, regardless of political affiliation. Illinois requires all candidates running for statewide office to collect signatures to get on the ballot in primary elections; meanwhile, nearly two-thirds [...]
Filing fees state-by-state
Two-thirds of the states require only a filing fee for candidates of qualified parties to get on the ballot in primary elections. Illinois is one of the few states with a signature requirement, while allowing any citizen to challenge those signatures. Primary Ballot Access for Statewide Candidates (source: Ballot Access News) State Petition Requirement or [...]
Get A Bill Sponsored Today
Calling all friends of democracy, of a right to a meaningful vote, of accountable representation, of free and equal elections! December is the time to grab your state legislators and ask them to sponsor a ballot-access reform bill for the upcoming 2010 legislative session. According to Ballot Access News, “More progress improving ballot access laws [...]
Petition Checkers in Chicago Seek to Limit Voter Choice
The corrupt machine of Illinois politics is in full swing this week at the Chicago Board of Elections. An army of petition checkers has descended upon boards of elections across the state, seeking to limit voter choice in the 2010 elections by invalidating signatures collected by candidates. Operating under a veil of secrecy, the petition [...]
New York State Libertarian Candidate to Have Hearing for Reinstatement to Ballot
Judge Rules that Lawsuit Against Challenger Can Continue On Wednesday October 7th, 2009 a hearing will take place at 10:00AM at the Board of Elections to determine if the voters of Suffolk County will have the chance to vote for more than one candidate in the upcoming local elections. Steve Kosin, a Libertarian candidate for [...]
“The Worst Designed Ballot In The Nation”
New Jersey: Home of The Sopranos, rampant corruption, and THE Worst-Designed Ballot in the Nation. The Democrat and Republican parties have maintained their iron grip on power in the state, and corruption, from the townships all the way to the state house, is a way of life. New Jersey will hold a gubernatorial election this [...]
Libertarian Candidate Files Suit Against Board of Elections
Asks to be Reinstated to Ballot; Judges Refuse to Hear Case September 15th, 2009- Steve Kosin, a Libertarian candidate for Sheriff in Suffolk County, New York has filed suit against the Board of Elections, asking the courts to reinstate his name to the November ballot. The Board of Elections in Suffolk County had previously ruled [...]
Board of Elections in New York Decrees “Soviet-Style Ballot”
Board of Elections Eliminates Libertarians from New York County Ballot September 9th, 2009- The Board of Elections in Suffolk County New York has ruled that the Libertarian Party candidates for three county offices will not be on the ballot come November. This action by the Board of Elections means that voters will only see one [...]
Democrats, Republicans Attempt to Limit Voter Choice in New York State
Petition Challenges Seek to Eliminate Independent and Third Party Candidates August 31, 2009 – After filing the necessary petitions required for ballot access in New York state, several independent and third party candidates find themselves squaring off with Democrats and Republicans long before election day, thanks to the archaic and cumbersome regulations governing nominating petitions. [...]
One Party Rule in New York State? Only If Petition Challengers Get Their Way
Democrats and Republicans are working together across the state of New York to ensure that there can be only one government approved candidate on the ballot for local offices in November.
Bloomberg Campaign Challenges Petitions, Wants Fewer Choices for NYC Voters
The State of New York has some of the most archaic rules to follow for petitioning candidates in the nation. Currently, petitioning various local offices is under way in New York City, including petitioning for the Mayor’s race as well as City Council. The focus on bureaucratic and clerical errors instead of voter eligibility often [...]
