Four-Eight-Four [dot org]

Third Party Watch (”Tennessee Minor Party Lawsuit to be Filed on January 23“) is reporting that the Constitution, Green and Libertarian Parties of Tennessee will be filing a lawsuit aimed at Tennessee’s ballot access laws for new and minor parties. Since 1972, only the Democratic and Republican Parties have appeared on Tennessee ballots, and while others have attempted ballot access reform, no progress has been made.

I’m hoping that they succeed. Ballot access laws in most states have turned into draconian measures that work prevent viable competition to the Republican and Democratic Parties.

In North Carolina, I registered as a Libertarian in early 2002, and just before I moved here, I received a nice letter from the NC Board of Elections informing me that I was no longer a member of any “recoginized” political party. Why? Because the LP candidate for president in 2004 didn’t get enough votes to meet the ballot access requirements.

The Libertarian Party has been in existence since 1971. According to the Michael Munger, there were 13,000 registered Libertarians in North Carolina at the time of the 2004 elections, and over 50,000 voters cast their vote for Barbara Howe, the Libertarian candidate for governor that year (”NC’s repressive stance on ballot access“). If this list is still accurate, there are 18 Libertarians holding office in North Carolina. Seems to me that a party that has been in existence for over 35 years and has elected people to public office in the state ought to be considered a viable party.

The same web site cited above lists three Libertarians in office in Tennessee. Pretty impressive considering that LP hasn’t been a recognized party since 1972, isn’t it?

It’s time for the hegemony of the Republicans and Democrats in Tennessee (and across the United States) to end. Best of luck with your lawsuit, folks!