The constitutional right to equal protection of the law is one of the most important tenets of the American government. If any citizen, whether rich or poor, male or female, or white, black or brown is harmed by the law, they have the right to seek relief in a court of law. Specifically, this means that all persons have the same access to the law and courts and to be treated equally by the law and courts, both in procedures and in the substance of the law. So, for instance if a minority voter were denied their right to cast a ballot for president based upon the color of their skin they would have the right to petition the court for a legal remedy allowing them to cast that ballot by the same means that I have to cast mine as a white person.
Essentially, we both have a right to be treated equally both in procedure, which is the legal process and in the substance of the law, which is applying the same interpretation of the law to both parties. It can be argued that the second part of the equal protection of the law right which applies to the same interpretation of the law to all parties is where the U.S. falls far short in regards to ballot access laws.
This week, it was announced by the Bob Barr for President Campaign that he will be the only presidential candidate to appear on the Texas ballot in November. Apparently, both the Republican and Democratic Party state chairs failed to meet state ballot access law. They were required to sign and deliver to the Texas secretary of state a written certification of the names of their party’s nominees for president and vice-president by 5 p.m. no later than the 70th day before the election. The exact deadline was last Tuesday August 26 at 5 p.m. On Thursday August 28th Barr sent his supporters an email with a link to the Texas Secretary of State’s site that showed blank spaces under both the Republican and Democratic ballot slots. Barr and his running mate Wayne A. Root did appear on the ballot under Libertarian. One should assume that since the deadline had passed by two days and the state had publicly posted its ballot on the internet without McCain and Obama’s names present that Bob Barr would be the only candidate in Texas running for president. But low and behold, after the Barr campaign brought the “oversight” to the attention of the secretary of state’s office both McCain and Obama’s names appeared on the Texas ballot. This is peculiar since both McCain and Obama’s names were not there on the 28th and because neither man had actually been officially nominated by their respective parties by the Texas deadline. Something smells fishy in Texas and in light of how hot it gets there in August the stench is overpowering.
Article comments
1 - Clavos
Not only should the Secretary of State be charged, tried, and if convicted under the law, punished, the Republicans and Democrats should also be prohibited from having their candidates' names on the ballot.
The loss of the not inconsiderable Texas electoral votes might just be an excellent object lesson for all politicians and party officials, nationwide.
And the voters of Texas, in traditional frontier fashion, should then tar and feather those party officials responsible for the oversight and run them out of the state on a rail.
2 - RJ Elliott
Well, looking at it pragmatically, if only Bob Barr is on the ballot, then Bob Barr will win the state. And this is a state that McCain would otherwise win handily in the general election.
If McCain is denied the 34 Electoral College votes of the solid-Red State of Texas, Obama is pretty much certain to win the election, even if that means it has to go to the House of Representatives (where Democrats have the majority).
So. You'd think that it wouldn't just be Bob Barr (and a few bloggers) who were pressing this issue. You'd think the Obama people would be pressing it as well, since it's to their advantage to have McCain's (and Obama's) name removed from the ballot.
And if Obama's operatives ever figure this out, things could get interesting...
3 - Dave Nalle
Oh please people. Did you not read my article about this? I talked to the Barr campaign on Friday and they were perfectly fine with letting the two major parties on the ballot. They had a very laudable attitude that it would be inappropriate to deny people the opportunity to vote for those candidates if they want to.
What's more, we don't have a statement from the Secretary of State yet. It's entirely possible that the Reps and Dems did file their paperwork on time and it just hadn't been processed yet. The law says that the SoS's office has 8 days to approve the filings.
Barr's problems in other states are a genuine issue and ballot access should absolutely be easier all-round. But the situation in Texas is not the real point here.
Dave
4 - Kenn Jacobine
Dave,
Let's not forget that McCain has still not been officially nominated. How can he appear on a ballot without being nominated? Clearly, the Barr folks corresponding with the SOS was the cause of both Obama and McCain names now appearing on the ballot. These folks are corrupt and they are not even good at it. As for the Barr campaign, they know the situation is rigged and a fight is hopeless. As for Obama's people, they know it is rigged also and will keep quiet because the system supports the two party system which most of them have made their fortunes through.