Text of: 31389-CS-NonDis-O
Whereas, equal access to the ballot is important in a free republic; and
Whereas, no one group should be permitted to have exclusive access to the ballot; and
Whereas, over the past quarter century election laws have been passed that make it difficult if not impossible for "minor parties" to have the names of their candidates for president and vice president printed on the general election ballot (30,000 signatures before each election in Texas); and
Whereas, because of these changes it has become difficult for even a long established party such as the Prohibition Party, which has offered candidates for election as president since 1872, to have their candidate's names appear on the ballot; and
Whereas, it is manifestly unfair for a bona fide political party to have to spend large sums to professional "volunteers" to secure signatures so their candidate for president and vice president may appear on the ballot,
Therefore, be it resolved by the 2000 General Conference of the United Methodist Church that we urge all state legislatures to review their requirements for a political party to appear on their ballot and, if necessary, change their statutes to make it possible for a political party to have its candidates for president and vice president appear on the ballot without the party needing an enormous bank account just to be on the ballot.
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