In a nation that prides itself on democracy and freedom, it’s critical to ensure that all voices can be heard and represented in the political arena. As a former member of the Libertarian Party of New York's State Committee (now serving as the Secretary of the Libertarian Party of Florida), I have witnessed firsthand the struggles third parties and independents face in gaining ballot presence. The current debate in New York State over whether to allow third parties like the Green Party, Libertarian Party, and independent candidates such as RFK on the ballot is a pivotal moment for voter rights and democracy.
As of this post, the Libertarian Party petition has been declared “invalid” due to insufficient petitions. The New York Board of Elections also invalidated Green Party Presidential Nominee Jill Stein and independent candidates Cornel West and Shiva Ayyadurai. Andrew Kolstee, Chair of the Libertarian Party of New York, said, “This is just another blow to third parties in New York State since the change of the law in 2020 designed to kill off third parties. This year also demonstrated the absurdity of the petitioning period. While we used to petition during the summer, because the period was moved back, it was before the Libertarian National Convention. Potential signers and circulators do not know who the Libertarian Party’s candidate is going to be until it is too late. Some of our petitioners experienced rejection to sign because we had to use a stand-in candidate instead of the actual candidate–who we didn’t know until less than 48 hours before the petitions were due to be filed.”
The two-party system has dominated American politics for far too long, often leaving voters feeling disenfranchised and without real choices, and instead leaving us only with picking the “lesser of two evils.” As a Libertarian, I'd rather not vote at all than be forced to choose between two terrible choices. The Democratic and Republican parties are well aware that their dominance is under threat as more people become dissatisfied with their corrupt and incompetent leadership — dissatisfaction that has led to an increasing interest in independent and third-party candidates, who offer fresh perspectives and solutions that traditional parties all-too-often fail to provide.
While I think it’s reasonable to have some barriers to entry to ensure candidates are both serious and have genuine support, the requirements should not be so onerous that they effectively block new voices. A threshold of around 2,500 petitions for a state-wide public elected office position seems fair to demonstrate candidate viability; however, anything beyond that, such as the current 45,000 signatures required in New York, imposes an excessive financial and logistical burden on third parties. This prevents these organizations from focusing on more productive ways to grow, such as campaigning and presenting their ideas to the electorate.
The exorbitant petition requirements in New York State serve as a financial drain, forcing third parties to allocate their precious limited resources towards merely getting on the ballot instead of promoting their candidates and platforms. Only candidates with unlimited money like RFK stand a chance — and how many independents have pockets as deep as RFK? It’s incredibly rare, and the intentional stifling of growth by the Duopoly is a deliberate tactic by the major parties to maintain their grip on power. By keeping third parties and independents off the ballot, they deny voters the opportunity to vote based on principle and prevent the political landscape from evolving.
The actions of former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo are a prime example of how ballot presence rules have been manipulated to suppress third-party and independent candidate participation. In 2018, the requirement for ballot presence for these categories of state-wide candidates was 15,000 signatures, which Larry Sharpe and the Libertarian Party of New York (LPNY) successfully achieved. Despite this success, the requirements were later tripled to 45,000 signatures for state-wide candidates, a change that was clearly intended to exclude third parties and independents. Christopher Skelly, Secretary of the Brooklyn Libertarian Party, said, “In New York State, both the DNC and GOP work in cohesion to deny access to the ballot and to deny voters a variety of choices, perpetuating the myth that there are only two choices. The tripling of the minimum requirement for petition signatures by former Governor Andrew Cuomo crippled ballot access for anyone not part of the two major party system, and culminated in the first Gubernatorial election in 80 years not to feature a third-party or independent candidate.”
As a former NYC resident, I can tell you both the DNC and GOP are denying New York voters their rights by trying to prevent anyone who isn't part of the Duopoly from being a choice on the ballot. They are so threatened by RFK, the Greens, and Libertarians that they do everything in their power to deny voters a real choice, proving they care more about their own power than the citizens they represent. For those unaware, Andrew Cuomo essentially kicked third parties off the ballot with ballot access changes unethically embedded in COVID relief bills.
RFK managed to get the astronomical number of required petitions (45,000), and he certainly deserves to be on the ballot. Libertarians and Greens may not have gotten that many petitions due to smaller budgets, but they also deserve representation. They are real third parties that have been around for years. And there’s another troubling development: the New York DNC is up to their usual reindeer games, trying to get RFK kicked off the ballot despite him meeting the 45,000 requirement.
Another alarming trend: Democrats and their allies are not just targeting RFK in New York. He faces similar resistance in multiple states. As Kennedy ramps up efforts to secure ballot access in all 50 states, Democratic political opponents are attempting to block his November election bid with at least five current lawsuits. Despite these efforts, Kennedy vowed to be on the ballot in every state by the end of July.
The need for reform in New York is urgent. We must advocate for lower, reasonable barriers to ballot presence that allow for a diverse range of candidates. This will not only enhance democratic representation but also encourage political innovation and responsiveness to the electorate's needs. By supporting minor parties and independents and ensuring they have a fair chance to participate, we can begin to break the stranglehold of the two-party system.
New Yorkers who value having a real choice at the ballot box can continue to fight for the rights of new and different options to be on the ballot, ensuring that all voters have the opportunity to choose candidates who truly represent their values and aspirations. Let us not settle for a stagnant political landscape dominated by a single "Uniparty" but strive for a vibrant democracy where every voice can be heard and every vote counts. If that sounds like you, please consider joining the Libertarian Party of New York to continue the ballot access fight.
Thanks for adding my quote!