Ballot Access
Seven thousand petition signatures to create a new political party and nominate a slate of candidates for office. Yet, even if a new or minor party becomes formally organized, it is difficult for their candidates to be listed on the election ballot for certain offices. Primary election rules require a prospective candidate to not only win the plurality, but for a minimum number of voters to choose to vote in that party's primary.
Independent candidates need a thousand signatures for a statewide office, four thousand for the presidency or 300 for a state legislative office. The independent nominating petition process does not allow for candidates to appear on the ballot with a political party designation, in lieu of independent, except for presidential elections.
Read more about this topic: Electoral Reform In North Dakota
Famous quotes containing the words ballot and/or access:
“I do not think the mere extension of the ballot a panacea for all the ills of our national life. What we need to-day is not simply more voters, but better voters.”
—Frances Ellen Watkins Harper (1825–1911)
“The Hacker Ethic: Access to computers—and anything which might teach you something about the way the world works—should be unlimited and total.
Always yield to the Hands-On Imperative!
All information should be free.
Mistrust authority—promote decentralization.
Hackers should be judged by their hacking, not bogus criteria such as degrees, age, race, or position.
You can create art and beauty on a computer.
Computers can change your life for the better.”
—Steven Levy, U.S. writer. Hackers, ch. 2, “The Hacker Ethic,” pp. 27-33, Anchor Press, Doubleday (1984)