The Free & Equal Elections Foundation is a non-partisan, non-profit public policy advocacy group dedicated to election reform and improving ballot access laws in the United States. Many states have restrictive requirements that make it difficult for non-establishment candidates to place their names on the ballot. Free & Equal will challenge these laws, through lobbying of state legislators, court challenges, and initiatives. Free & Equal will also engage in activism for causes independent of the current two-party duopoly.
From the site's founder, Christina M. Tobin, I received an email discussing:
Today, State Representative Jim Watson (R-97, Jacksonville) introduced House Bill 2854, a ballot access reform bill for Illinois elections. HB2854, originally proposed by the Free & Equal Elections Foundation, would allow candidates for public office an alternative to Illinois' unequal and burdensome signature requirements by paying a filing fee in its place. The bill would allow candidates to pay a filing fee equal to 1% of the annual salary of the office sought in lieu of gathering signatures. Illinois requirements for independent candidates are in many cases a great deal more restrictive than they are for political party candidates, effectively preventing independents from getting on the ballot. HB2854 would make the requirements equal for independents and recognized party candidates, so that Illinois voters have a choice. If the bill were to pass, Illinois would join Louisiana, Florida, and Oklahoma in allowing certain candidates to pay a filing fee in lieu of the petition requirement.
This option is in my playbook of changes. We have started to discuss this here in New York.
Use the above link to find out more about The Free & Equal Elections Foundation.
NYC Wins When Everyone Can Vote!
Michael H. Drucker
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