Federal Judge Rules Deadline for Justice Party to Qualify for Ballot Must be Extended
DAVID SAPP
On May 7th the ACLU of Southern California filed suit against Secretary of State Debra Bowen seeking the inclusion of Justice Party and Constitution Party nominees for President and Vice President on November’s election ballot.
On May 22nd, a federal judge granted a preliminary injunction prohibiting the California Secretary of State from enforcing a January deadline by which the Justice Party had been required to meet onerous qualification requirements to place our candidates on California’s November presidential ballot. The Secretary of State or the legislature will therefore have to set a new deadline closer to the November general election.
“Today’s decision recognizes that a state cannot freeze the political playing field ten months before an election,” said David Sapp, staff attorney for the ACLU/SC. “This is an important victory vindicating the foundational principle of our democracy that individuals can join together and compete on equal terms in the political arena.”
Political groups cannot place their candidates on California’s ballot unless they are formally recognized by the State as political parties. Since California first enacted the early party-qualification deadline in 1953, only seven new political parties have met the qualification standards, and only one new party has done so since 1995.
All minor parties will benefit from our victory, and the People of California will now be offered real alternatives, without which democracy can't thrive.
On May 22nd, a federal judge granted a preliminary injunction prohibiting the California Secretary of State from enforcing a January deadline by which the Justice Party had been required to meet onerous qualification requirements to place our candidates on California’s November presidential ballot. The Secretary of State or the legislature will therefore have to set a new deadline closer to the November general election.
“Today’s decision recognizes that a state cannot freeze the political playing field ten months before an election,” said David Sapp, staff attorney for the ACLU/SC. “This is an important victory vindicating the foundational principle of our democracy that individuals can join together and compete on equal terms in the political arena.”
Political groups cannot place their candidates on California’s ballot unless they are formally recognized by the State as political parties. Since California first enacted the early party-qualification deadline in 1953, only seven new political parties have met the qualification standards, and only one new party has done so since 1995.
All minor parties will benefit from our victory, and the People of California will now be offered real alternatives, without which democracy can't thrive.
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Declaration of Justice
When in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary to reject failed institutions, the Justice Party of California shall rise and serve. We hold these truths to be self-evident, but state the obvious out of necessity:
- All humans are annoying but nonetheless entitled to equal rights.
- Emotions are the aphrodisiac of life, but no substitute for analysis. Evidence matters.
- The best people to lead a cultural revival are artists, writers and military veterans.
- Speak the truth even if it makes your pants fall off.
- Our lives are defined by how we respond to conflict. The use of force is a last resort.
- Health care is a human right.
- The greatest obstacle to transforming democracy is the People’s resistance to change.
- There’s a word for voting the same way over and over and expecting different results.
- Change your mind. The party you’ve been waiting for has arrived.
- All humans are annoying but nonetheless entitled to equal rights.
- Emotions are the aphrodisiac of life, but no substitute for analysis. Evidence matters.
- The best people to lead a cultural revival are artists, writers and military veterans.
- Speak the truth even if it makes your pants fall off.
- Our lives are defined by how we respond to conflict. The use of force is a last resort.
- Health care is a human right.
- The greatest obstacle to transforming democracy is the People’s resistance to change.
- There’s a word for voting the same way over and over and expecting different results.
- Change your mind. The party you’ve been waiting for has arrived.
