Evan McMullin Gratuitously Denied Ballot Access in Florida, Because That’s What the Duopoly Does

[libertybele]

I understand that McMullin got into the race after the fact, but this is an example as to why it is nearly impossible for a 3rd party to win.

Evan McMullin Gratuitously Denied Ballot Access in Florida, Because That’s What the Duopoly Does

...Politico has a good new accounting of the complicated scandal. Basically, McMullin was nominated by the Independent Party of Florida, but the Sunshine State's Division of Elections ruled that the party was ineligible because it is not one of 13 "national parties" officially recognized by the Federal Election Commission for purposes of enforcing campaign finance rules. Alert readers at this point may note that campaign finance is not ballot access, and that the federal government is not the state of Florida. Now, what if I told you that the Divisions of Elections reports to Gov. Rick Scott, a Republican who runs a pro-Donald Trump SuperPAC?

This power move is all the more blatant given that Florida as recently as 2011 issued a ruling saying that minor parties should qualify for the state ballot if they simply get their paperwork straight, regardless of what the feds thought. "So Florida and other states were very respectful of Americans Elects and went out of their way to ease ballot access," Ballot Access News super-specialist Richard Winger told Politico Florida. "Now that the parties are suffering in Florida and are less powerful, the state feels it can change the rule with impunity."

More outrage:

    "I do not think in any way that this reflects a compelling state interest that justifies exclusion from the ballot," said David Schoen, a New York-based attorney who has worked to help get ballot access for minor party candidates ballot access. […]

    "At the last minute, they [the state] change, creating havoc and really hurting folks who spent a lot of time and effort pursuing ballot access," Schoen said. "Very unfair." […]

    "The good ol' boy network is alive and well it seems," said Jonathan Hansen, a Nevada attorney whose practice area includes ballot access. "The 'major' parties will do anything to retain power by limiting access to minor parties."

Regardless of what you think of Evan McMullin, this kind of power-abuse is just gross. And it's the status quo. Republicans and Democrats kick third-party candidates in the face for the same reason dogs lick their nether-bits: because they can. Getting onto state ballots as a third-party candidate in this context is downright heroic, which is one of many reasons why the criteria for at least the initial presidential debate should be jumping through enough of the duopoly's hoops to at least be a mathematical possibility in getting 270 Electoral College votes...

http://reason.com/blog/2016/09/16/evan-mcmullin-gratuitously-denied-ballot

[Frank Cannon]

Evan who?

[jmyrlefuller]

Evan who?

A Republican stooge hired to further water-down the third-party vote, deliberately enter too late to qualify for most state ballots, and ensure a Trump victory.

[Frank Cannon]

A Republican stooge hired to further water-down the third-party vote, deliberately enter too late to qualify for most state ballots, and ensure a Trump victory.

Oh. That Evan.

[libertybele]

Evan who?

It's not the point.  Sure he's unknown and jumped in the race very late in the game, but it is grossly unjust that you can only win an election anymore if you are part of the Washington Cartel and have very deep pockets.

[kevindavis007]

Sorry, but if you don't have signatures, no ballot access.

[Frank Cannon]

It's not the point.  Sure he's unknown and jumped in the race very late in the game, but it is grossly unjust that you can only win an election anymore if you are part of the Washington Cartel and have very deep pockets.

The Greens and Libertarians are on the ballot in FL.

[kevindavis007]

The Greens and Libertarians are on the ballot in FL.

Even the Libertarian candidate is on the ballot in Illinois.

[Weird Tolkienish Figure]

The Greens and Libertarians are on the ballot in FL.

So restricting this guy ballot access will actually be a boon to third parties.

I've said it before, the third party vote will have little impact on the election because the vote is so spread out between greens, libertarians, constitution, etc.

[Frank Cannon]

So restricting this guy ballot access will actually be a boon to third parties.

I've said it before, the third party vote will have little impact on the election because the vote is so spread out between greens, libertarians, constitution, etc.

How dare you relegate the Prohibition Party to "ect".

[Longmire]

A Republican stooge hired to further water-down the third-party vote, deliberately enter too late to qualify for most state ballots, and ensure a Trump victory.

McMullin isn't in the race to do anything but throw the race to Hillary Clinton by taking votes away from Trump.

He only needs to do this in one state, so kicking him to the curb in Florida doesn't end the potential threat his candidacy poses.

Too bad he's such an unappealing dweeb though, he could have been a real contender.