Comments on: Florida voters will have LOTS of choices in November http://thirdpartywatch.com/2008/09/15/florida-voters-will-have-lots-of-choices-in-november/ Wed, 07 Jan 2009 19:00:25 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=1.5.1.3 by: David Gaines http://thirdpartywatch.com/2008/09/15/florida-voters-will-have-lots-of-choices-in-november/#comment-948362 Tue, 30 Sep 2008 23:05:03 +0000 http://thirdpartywatch.com/2008/09/15/florida-voters-will-have-lots-of-choices-in-november/#comment-948362 The number of candidates on any given state's ballot (New Jersey's and Colorado's are usually chock full as well) rarely produces problems - it's the way the ballots are designed, witness Florida 2000. New Jersey, for example, has had lots and lots of presidential candidates on their ballot for decades and it doesn't seem to be a problem for anybody (well, for anybody who doesn't think small, radical, parties ought to have a chance like everyone else). Other countries with far less sophisticated electoral cultures and voting technology than we have somehow manage to stumble through election after election with in some cases a couple of dozen parties on their ballots. For some reason a lot of Americans absolutely freak out at the prospect of seeing a ballot with more than 3 or 4. Except when it comes to the two major parties' primaries, of course. They'll fill the stage with everyone who's running, even if they're not even registering in the polls. The Democrats crammed ten people on their debate stages last winter and spring, remember? So what's the problem with having 4 or 5 on a general election debate, or having 10 or 11 appearing on a ballot on election day? The number of candidates on any given state’s ballot (New Jersey’s and Colorado’s are usually chock full as well) rarely produces problems – it’s the way the ballots are designed, witness Florida 2000. New Jersey, for example, has had lots and lots of presidential candidates on their ballot for decades and it doesn’t seem to be a problem for anybody (well, for anybody who doesn’t think small, radical, parties ought to have a chance like everyone else).

Other countries with far less sophisticated electoral cultures and voting technology than we have somehow manage to stumble through election after election with in some cases a couple of dozen parties on their ballots. For some reason a lot of Americans absolutely freak out at the prospect of seeing a ballot with more than 3 or 4.

Except when it comes to the two major parties’ primaries, of course. They’ll fill the stage with everyone who’s running, even if they’re not even registering in the polls. The Democrats crammed ten people on their debate stages last winter and spring, remember? So what’s the problem with having 4 or 5 on a general election debate, or having 10 or 11 appearing on a ballot on election day?

]]> by: Lois Nigam http://thirdpartywatch.com/2008/09/15/florida-voters-will-have-lots-of-choices-in-november/#comment-900785 Tue, 16 Sep 2008 01:05:36 +0000 http://thirdpartywatch.com/2008/09/15/florida-voters-will-have-lots-of-choices-in-november/#comment-900785 Too many candidates. Too much chaos. Yes we need Green Party candidate on the ballot. Yes Libertarian. Yes Independent Green Constitution. Florida needs slight more strict requirements. The Three major minor parties are enough. Too many candidates.

Too much chaos.

Yes we need Green Party candidate on the ballot.

Yes Libertarian.

Yes Independent Green Constitution.

Florida needs slight more strict requirements.

The Three major minor parties are enough.

]]> by: Peter M. http://thirdpartywatch.com/2008/09/15/florida-voters-will-have-lots-of-choices-in-november/#comment-900027 Mon, 15 Sep 2008 19:59:55 +0000 http://thirdpartywatch.com/2008/09/15/florida-voters-will-have-lots-of-choices-in-november/#comment-900027 If I remember correctly from their presidential election, France randomises the order which the candidates appear on the ballot for each election. I think that'd be a good system for the US. If I remember correctly from their presidential election, France randomises the order which the candidates appear on the ballot for each election. I think that’d be a good system for the US.

]]> by: Eric http://thirdpartywatch.com/2008/09/15/florida-voters-will-have-lots-of-choices-in-november/#comment-899778 Mon, 15 Sep 2008 18:05:36 +0000 http://thirdpartywatch.com/2008/09/15/florida-voters-will-have-lots-of-choices-in-november/#comment-899778 How did Imperato not make the ballot? Wasn't he running the penultimate 'Independent" campaign? And isn't he from Florida? How did Imperato not make the ballot? Wasn’t he running the penultimate ‘Independent” campaign? And isn’t he from Florida?

]]> by: Free Al. http://thirdpartywatch.com/2008/09/15/florida-voters-will-have-lots-of-choices-in-november/#comment-899360 Mon, 15 Sep 2008 14:55:00 +0000 http://thirdpartywatch.com/2008/09/15/florida-voters-will-have-lots-of-choices-in-november/#comment-899360 As a proud Floridian, I'm glad to see my state is relativly sensible when it comes to ballot access. Far too many other states treat more choices like a bad thing. I just wish McCain and Obama didn't have automatic rights to the top two spots. Maybe if voters had to look for them among the candidates, instead of automatically picking one of the top two, they might become interested in third parties. As a proud Floridian, I’m glad to see my state is relativly sensible when it comes to ballot access. Far too many other states treat more choices like a bad thing. I just wish McCain and Obama didn’t have automatic rights to the top two spots. Maybe if voters had to look for them among the candidates, instead of automatically picking one of the top two, they might become interested in third parties.

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