Libertarians, Greens Plan Joint Protest
Bi-partisan Protest is scheduled for Tuesday, May 20 9:00 AM around
the Legislative Building in Raleigh.
Politics certainly does make strange bedfellows. These two
political parties find themselves diametrically opposed on some
issues, but the Libertarians and the Greens can vehemently agree on at
least one thing: Ballot access standards are too high in North
Carolina.
Frustration in both parties reached a fevered pitch earlier this
month when Speakers Black and Morgan neglected to introduce H867,
known as the Electoral Fairness Act to the House floor for debate and
a vote. The bill had passed committee and was believed to have enough
votes to pass the State House. It had been on the schedule for a
week, however, because neither speaker introduced it on the floor
before the crossover deadline, it expired. North Carolina Legislative
rules allow for this type of decision by inaction on the part of the
Speakers, and many feel this gives them an inordinate amount of power.
Current ballot access restrictions mandate signature requirements
that cost the Libertarian Party in excess of $100,000 for the last
cycle, money party leadership feels would be better spent on outreach
and public education. The Greens are still struggling to meet the
requirements. If a party on the ballot fails to garner at least 10%
of the gubernatorial vote, they will be delisted and have to organize
as a new party and gather signatures all over again. The EFA would
have lowered the threshold to 2%.
The joint protest is planned for Tuesday, May 20 outside the
legislative building in Raleigh, beginning at 9:00 AM until the day's
session begins. Protesters plan to pass out flyers detailing
greivances, dress up in character, and speak with as many
Representatives as possible about the EFA and the actions, or
inactions of the Speakers.
More information about the EFA is
here
and information about the Speakers' terpitude is
here.
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