Since 1961 Tennessee has unconstitutionally blocked Tennesseans from free political association. After Jim Crow laws were struck down and before the Voting Rights Act was allowed to pass The Tennessee General Assembly enacted laws making it literally IMPOSSIBLE for minority parties to gain access to the ballot with their party name displayed. This year, 2014, Tennessee ballot access law still requires minority party (Other than GOP, DEM or Independent) candidates to collect more than 40,000 VERIFIED signatures to get on the ballot. GOP, DEMS and Independents on the other hand require on TWENTY FIVE (25) signatures. This is in fact the last vestige of Jim Crow. 40,000 signatures is more than most districts have registered voters. If youve ever run for office you know you best get at least twice if not three times the number of signatures required to get on the ballot or you will be disqualified. It is time Tennessee stopped denying Tennesseans our constitutional rights to political association. Three times Tennessees Ballot Access laws have been declared UNCONSTITUTIONAL by the 6th Circuit Federal Court and the laws have not been changed. In 2014 the 6th Circuit Court ordered the Constitution Party and Green Party on the ballot in Tennessee, as they had been ordering Ohio to place certain minor parties on the ballot. The 67th Tennessee House district achieved 30.01% of the vote in 2014 qualifying that one district, under existing rules, to be treated the same on the ballot as the establishment parties for the next two election cycles (4 years). Please give you State Representatives and Senator a call and tell them you expect them to treat all Tennesseans with equal respect and equal rights under the law. To find yours use this link: capitol.tn.gov/legislators/ Thank You...
Posted on: Sat, 08 Nov 2014 19:16:45 +0000
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