The Vortex
Attempts to Get Nader on Ballots Continue
RECEIVED Wed., Oct. 13, 2004
Dear Editor:
Much to your amusement, I'm sure, attempts continue to keep Nader off of U.S. ballots. The Oct. 6 appeals decision denies tens of thousands of Texas voters who signed petitions to put him on the ballot their choice, preserves the choke hold of the two-party system, and weakens democracy. Texans will still have the option to write in Nader on the ballot, but many independent voices in our state have been stifled by this travesty of justice.
The 5th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled simply that the previous judgment was "well-stated," but the court failed, in their brief one-paragraph declaration of agreement, to address any of the issues brought before them. The court did not mention Judge Yeakel's totally inaccurate statement that independents have to declare their candidacy in Texas by Jan. 2. The court also failed to mention Texas' earliest deadline in the nation or why they felt it constitutional that independent candidates should have to gather 41% more signatures 14 days sooner than third parties in Texas. The case will be brought, sometime after the election, before the U.S. Supreme Court as the decision is in direct conflict with another circuit, the 4th Circuit Court of Appeals, which recently declared such harsh deadlines and requirements unconstitutional.
Texans for Nader continues to maintain its success in the ballot access campaign – contending that 84,000 signatures collected in 75 days' time is an incredible feat ... and views with suspicion the secretary of state's claim that out of an only 400-signature sampling, they were able to determine that we failed to achieve 64,077 valid signatures by a mere 700 signatures.
After Nov. 2, Nader supporters, third parties, and democracy-supporting groups statewide will escalate the fight for our right to electoral choice by challenging the harshest ballot-access laws in the U.S.
Much to your amusement, I'm sure, attempts continue to keep Nader off of U.S. ballots. The Oct. 6 appeals decision denies tens of thousands of Texas voters who signed petitions to put him on the ballot their choice, preserves the choke hold of the two-party system, and weakens democracy. Texans will still have the option to write in Nader on the ballot, but many independent voices in our state have been stifled by this travesty of justice.
The 5th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled simply that the previous judgment was "well-stated," but the court failed, in their brief one-paragraph declaration of agreement, to address any of the issues brought before them. The court did not mention Judge Yeakel's totally inaccurate statement that independents have to declare their candidacy in Texas by Jan. 2. The court also failed to mention Texas' earliest deadline in the nation or why they felt it constitutional that independent candidates should have to gather 41% more signatures 14 days sooner than third parties in Texas. The case will be brought, sometime after the election, before the U.S. Supreme Court as the decision is in direct conflict with another circuit, the 4th Circuit Court of Appeals, which recently declared such harsh deadlines and requirements unconstitutional.
Texans for Nader continues to maintain its success in the ballot access campaign – contending that 84,000 signatures collected in 75 days' time is an incredible feat ... and views with suspicion the secretary of state's claim that out of an only 400-signature sampling, they were able to determine that we failed to achieve 64,077 valid signatures by a mere 700 signatures.
After Nov. 2, Nader supporters, third parties, and democracy-supporting groups statewide will escalate the fight for our right to electoral choice by challenging the harshest ballot-access laws in the U.S.
Sincerely,
Debbie Russell
Debbie Russell
[Ed. Note: We find almost nothing about the current political situation, the electoral campaign, the war in Iraq, the current Republican Congress or the Nader Campaign amusing.]