 |
 |
|
 |
|
||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 |
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Democracy In Reverse
New York State has the most undemocratic ballot laws in the nation. The most recent blatant attempt to limit the democratic process happened during the 2000 Presidential Primary when popular Republican Senator and American patriot John McCain was denied access to the New York State Presidential Primary. In a shameful display of political manipulation at all levels, Governor Pataki and the Republican State Committee unsuccessfully attempted to use New York's unduly complicated and restrictive election laws to squash or at least slow down McCain's efforts in New York State. The ploy worked and McCain was prevented from appearing on the ballot until the very last minute, impeding his ability to mount an effective campaign. Ultimately, this ploy cost innocent New York taxpayers - not the politicians - hundreds of thousands of dollars in court-imposed settlements. While Governor Pataki talks about the need for election law reform, he has done little to open the nation's most restrictive election laws. It is absolutely outrageous that more than 200 years after the adoption the Constitution, equal access to running for office is simply not available in New York State. Jack Cheevers knows from personal experience how the state's election laws are specifically designed to restrict access to elected office while protecting the domain of incumbents. In 1996, Jack was forced to go to New York State Supreme Court to be allowed to run in a primary against a 10-year incumbent. It is an affront to the people of New York State that candidates for public office are restricted from seeking that office by arcane, unjust and perhaps unconstitutional New York State election laws. Rather than practicing democracy in reverse that restricts and discourages access to public office, and actually hampers the voting process itself, New York State needs to immediately shift gears and move forward with a truly open ballot process that encourages democracy on all levels. The legislature can start with reform of its archaic self-serving election laws. Expensive and unreasonable petition and signature demands need to be eliminated. New and more convenient avenues for individual voter registration need to be explored. Ideas such as Election Day registration, now offered in six states, and vote by mail as in Oregon have resulted in a substantial increase in voter participation. Every legislator talks democracy, let's ask them to implement it. Help Jack Cheevers Fix Albany and Save New York. Support and vote Jack Cheevers for Governor in 2002. |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
Jack Cheevers for Governor | 108 Washington Avenue | Endicott, NY 13790 | 607-785-8240 | Security & Privacy | Contact Us
|
|
|
|
|
| The Issues · Contribute · Volunteer · News · Jack's Bio | Paid for by Friends of Jack Cheevers · Design by jdgimzek.com |