Socialist Party gains access to the Ohio Ballot. Write In Status for Connecticut.
Todd Vachon sent this to Queers Without Borders. Todd is the Socialist Party candidate in the 2nd district running for Congress. We at QWB are thrilled to hear when any parties , many times after a long hard fight get on the ballot.
Socialist Party Put on Ohio Ballot by Federal Court
August 21st, 2008
http://www.ballot-access.org/2008/08/21/socialist-party-put-on-ohio-ballot-by-fe
deral-court/
On August 21, U.S. District Court Judge Edmund Sargus issued an order putting the Socialist Party on the Ohio ballot. Specifically, Brian Moore for President and Stewart Alexander for vice-president will be listed on the November ballot with “Socialist” next to their names. Case: Moore v Brunner, 2:08cv-224.
The Ohio Green Party knows about this decision and hopes to gain the same sort of relief for itself.
Judge Sargus said about the Socialist Party, “The Court finds that the Socialist Party USA has the requisite community support to be placed on the ballot in Ohio based on the following undisputed facts in the parties’ memorandum. Socialist Party USA has a century-long history of involvement in presidential politics. The party held its last biennial convention in St. Louis, Missouri, in October 2007, at which time it nominated Moore and Alexander as its candidates. Socialist Party candidates appeared on the ballot in 8 states in the 2004 presidential election, and garnered 10,822 votes nationwide. For the upcoming 2008 election, plaintiffs Moore and Alexander have currently qualified in Vermont, New Jersey and Colorado and are actively seeking ballot access in 18 other states, including Ohio. As for a showing of support in Ohio, the Socialist Party has an active state affiliate in Ohio with a Charter and state officers since at least 1999. The part has gathered several signature of Ohio residents.”
This is the first time that the Socialist Party has ever won a ballot access lawsuit in federal court. The party won many ballot access lawsuits in state courts, in the period 1900-1948. The party also won a federal lawsuit in Iowa in the 1980’s, to win the right of its members to serve as deputy registrars of voters, but that was not a ballot access case.
In Connecticut both the Moore campaign for president and the Vachon campaign for congress will have write-in status. More info to follow.
Peace and Solidarity,
Todd Vachon
Chairman
Socialist Party Connecticut.
1 comment
This is great news, but we have to remember two things (and I say this as a SP-USA member): one, the U.S. party duopoly of the Democrats and Republicans is structured in such a way that third parties are crippled from the get go, and two, as Emma Goldman said "if voting changed anything, they'd make it illegal." The real strength of voting and running in bourgeoisie elections is in getting your voice heard, and showing the people that there is another way. It may also be good for making small changes here and there, but as countries like Venezuela and Bolivia should show, even that is fraught with problems.
All in all though, its good to see an expansion of the voting options on the ballot, though I still am in favour of the move by some parties on the left to try and form a more unified opposition.
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