Election Laws
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Status Quo Option: Keep the Existing Plank. For all platform categories
we have the option of doing nothing; that is accepting what the LP already
has.
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The LP Platform Currently Reads
The Issue: Electoral systems matter. Many
state legislatures have established gerrymandered districts and prohibitively
restrictive laws that effectively exclude alternative candidates and parties
from their rightful places on election ballots. Such laws wrongfully deny
ballot access to political candidates and groups, and further deny the voters
their right to consider all legitimate alternatives. Various laws enable
the federal and state governments to control the elections of their own administrators
and beneficiaries, thereby further reducing accountability to citizens.
The Principle: Elections at all levels
should be in the control of those who wish to participate in or support them
voluntarily. As private voluntary groups, political parties should be allowed
to establish their own rules for nomination procedures, primaries and conventions.
No state has an interest to protect in this area except for the fair and
efficient conduct of elections.
Solutions: We propose electoral systems
that are more representative of the electorate at the federal, state and
local levels. There should be no state or federal restriction of ballot access.
Voters may submit their own choices including the option of using "tickets"
or cards printed by candidates or political parties.
Transitional Action: End government control
of political parties, consistent with First Amendment rights to freedom of
association and freedom of expression. We urge repeal of the Federal Election
Campaign Act and the Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act, which suppress voluntary
support of candidates and parties. Primary elections should be returned to
political party convention rather than being a taxpayer subsidized public
event. Add the alternative "none of the above" to all ballots. In the event
that "none of the above" receives a plurality of votes in any election, either
the elective office for that term should remain unfilled and unfunded, or
there shall be a new election in which none of the losing candidates shall
be eligible. In order to grant voters a full range of choice in federal, state
and local elections, we propose proportional voting systems with multi-member
districts for legislative elections and instant runoff voting (IRV) for single
winner elections. To avoid fraud and manipulation, electronic voting systems
must use a voter verified paper ballot as the ballot of count, recount, audit
and record.
[If you think the current LP position on this subject is acceptable, then
vote "yes" below. If not, vote "no" below. Either way, please consider the
other options listed on the right sidebar and vote "yes" for all that you
like and "no" for all that you dislike. This is an approval vote; you get
to vote for all of the options that you like.]
3 Comments (This is also the place for general comments about this plank
vs. comments about particular proposals.)
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