OntheWilderSide

Press Conference for Voter’s Rights 9-24 at US Supreme Court

On Monday, September 24th, the Pennsylvania Ballot Access Coalition (www.paballotaccess.org) will sponsor a press conference/rally at the US Supreme Court, the 100 Block of Maryland Avenue, in Washington, DC. We are doing this to urge the US Supreme Court to decide to hear Rogers vs. Cortese, which is on their list for Sep. 24th. The Press Conference is scheduled for 9 am. 

We are doing this in concert with the Pennsylvania and US Green Parties, along with the support of other individual and third parties. 

Rogers vs. Cortese was filed as a response to the most restrictive ballot access laws in the United States. The US Court of Appeals, Third Circuit, after a very lengthy consideration, decided not to grant a rehearing. In 2006, the signature requirement for an Independent or or Third Party Candidate seeking statewide office was 67,000 signatures. (Democrats and Republicans need 2,000 signatures for their Primary Ballot Line.) Though Carl Romanelli did, in fact, gather 100,000 signatures, he was denied ballot access and fined $80,000 for daring to run (as profiled in the documentary film ‘It Ain’t Easy Being Green’). 

In the ODHIR (Office of Democratic Institutions and Human Rights) report of March 9, 2007, Pennsylvania was singled out, among all fifty states, for having excessive ballot access requirements. ODHIR was created under the Helsinki Accords, signed by the US in 1975. 

The current speaker list includes:

• Hillary Aisenstein, Chair, Green Party of Pennsylvania
• Tom McLaughlin, Chair, Reform Party of Pennsylvania
• John Murphy, The Ralph Nader Campaign. Pennsylvania Green National Delegate.
• Titus North, Pennsylvania Green, highest 2006 vote totals for 3rd party/independent candidate
• Bill Redpath, Chair, Libertarian Party of America.
• Carl Romanelli, Pennsylvania Green candidate (2006) for US Senate.

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