OKBallotChoice.org - a coalition of Oklahomans working for FAIR laws that give voters genuine choices
HOME HOME The Issues Resources Press Help Email Discussion List Contact us Home Ballot Access News The E Party Project NOTA4Oklahoma 2004 Campaign Oklahoma Libertarian Party Green Party of Oklahoma Oklahoma Constitution Party Voters in 49 states (but not Oklahoma) could vote for Michael Badnarik, Libertarian Candidate Voters in 28 states (but not Oklahoma) could vote for Green Candidate David Cobb Voters in 35 states (but not Oklahoma) could vote for Reform/Ind. Candidate Ralph Nader Voters in 36 states (but not Oklahoma) could vote for Constitution Candidate Michael Peroutka Voters in 14 states (but not Oklahoma) could vote for Socialist Workers Candidate Roger Calero MENU













  
Small parties unite behind ballot reforms
The Journal Record:
by Ray Carter
11/26/2004


A coalition of small political parties hopes to push a reform of Oklahoma's ballot access laws in the 2005 legislative session. The members of the Oklahomans for Ballot Access Reform include representatives of the Libertarian, Green and Constitution parties.

Officials with the group say Oklahoma is widely recognized as the worst state in the United States with regard to ballot access laws because its requirements are among the most stringent.

Oklahoma requires thousands of signatures on petitions for an independent or third-party candidate to qualify for placement on the ballot. And political parties can also lose their official standing if their candidates did not receive 10 percent of votes cast for the top office at a general election.

This election cycle, every state except Oklahoma had at least three choices for president, and many had four or more. Oklahomans had only two choices - Republican George W. Bush or Democrat John Kerry.

In 48 states, people could vote for Libertarian Party nominee Michael Badnarik, in 29 states they could cast a vote for Green Party nominee David Cobb, and in 35 states they could vote for Constitution Party nominee Michael Peroutka. The only third-party candidate that got any press attention was former Green nominee, Reform/Independent candidate Ralph Nader, who was on the ballot in 34 states.

The requirement to get on the ballot is so strict that the national committees of the third parties didn't put a priority on attaining ballot access here, according to a release issued by Oklahomans for Ballot Access Reform. The Oklahoma Libertarian Party did a ballot access petition to gain access, but didn't meet the requirement of 51,781 signatures. This was the first time since the 1980s that the Libertarians weren't on the ballot in Oklahoma.

The Libertarian Party tried to field a candidate for state representative in 2002 who was registered Libertarian, but he was not allowed by Oklahoma to run. He tried to file as an independent and was told he had to run under his party banner. He tried to file as a Libertarian, but he wasn't allowed to because the Libertarian party wasn't recognized as a party in 2002.

Oklahomans for Ballot Access Reform, which persuaded a state legislator to submit a reform bill in the 2003 session, is trying to find a legislator who will be willing to submit a bill for the 2005 session. The group decided to use a bill similar to the last one submitted. They have also hired a lobbyist who will follow the bill when it is introduced.



Why was Oklahoma ballot access made so restrictive?

In 1968 the American Independent candidate received 20.3% of the Oklahoma vote. Concerned state politicians voted to restrict third party access in 1974 (with SB 415 by Smith and Elder), perhaps fearing the results of weak Democratic support in 1976 (George McGovern, ended up with only 24% of the Oklahoma vote). See the 1976 court case when American Party presidential candidate, Thomas Anderson, challenged Oklahoma's laws tailored to keep Oklahomans from exercising voter choice.