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“Registration Open for Third Congress”
When America was God’s Country
America In Crisis: A Southern Solution
America In Crisis: A Southern Solution - Preview 4 of 4
Georgia Congressional delegation vote summary on trade agreements
America In Crisis: A Southern Solution
Sam Davis Youth Camp Band Fund
Southern National Congress documentary - Preview 2
What is States' Rights? Part 4
Southern National Congress announces documentary
Taking the Tenth: The Last Hope
Beware the False Alternative!
Remembering Jefferson Davis
Drawing a Line in The Sand: The Healthcare Bill
Confederate Heritage Month - Minutes 16 - 20
Lest They Be Forgotten ...
Jefferson and Nullification
Confederate Heritage Month - Minutes 11 - 15
Confederate Heritage Month - Minutes
Confederate Heritage Month - Minutes
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Legislative Alert - Ballot
Access Reform Act of 2005 being drafted
Many Georgians probably do not know that Georgia has the hardest
laws in our country to get on the ballot - if you are
not a Republican
or Democrat. In fact the sad truth is that it was easier to get on
the ballot in Iraq than here in our State of Georgia.
This is a disgrace - especially since neither the Constitution
of these United States nor the Constitution of the State of Georgia
have any provisions to grant special favor to specifically the
Republican or Democratic Parties. Neither are mentioned at all in
either Constitution - but here in Georgia they have enacted laws to
virtually PREVENT additional competition.
Do we need additional competition - you bet we do! Just look
at last November's election, 97 State House Districts had unopposed
candidates. That means that over 50% of Georgians had only one
choice for State House Representative. And you just thought that
"one choice" elections happened in third rate banana republics!
In addition, the State spends quite a bit of your money to
make the hardest ballot access laws even more difficult. Tax payer
dollars are expended to disqualify (read disenfranchise) as many
voters as possible. This is the direct opposite of their stated goal
of increasing voter participation.
A draft of one of two forthcoming bills to make reasonable
improvements in this system follow. We hope that you will take some
time to read the bill and give this issue some thought. When we get
the bill finalized and filed we hope that you will join with us in
worked for its passage.
The following is a draft:
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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
To
amend Title 21 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated,
relating to elections, to provide a short title; to provide
for legislative intent; to change the provisions relating to
nomination of candidates by petition; to provide for related
matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL
ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:
SECTION 1.
This
Act shall be known and may be cited as the "Ballot Access
Reform Act of 2005."
SECTION 2.
It is
the intent of the General Assembly to increase voter
participation and political debate by making the ballot more
accessible for candidates of political bodies, for independent
candidates and to provide for a simplified and consistent
petition standard for all public offices.
SECTION 3.
Said
title is further amended by striking in its entirety
subsection (b) of Code Section 21_2_170, relating to
nomination of candidates by petition, and inserting in lieu
thereof a new subsection (b) to read as follows:
"(b)
A nomination petition of a candidate seeking
an
state-wide,
Congressional, General Assembly or other
office which is voted upon
state wide
in a partisan
election shall be
signed by a number of voters equal to
at least
1
2
percent of the total number of
registered voters eligible to
vote
votes cast
in the last election for the filling of the office the
candidate is seeking and the signers of such petition shall be
registered and eligible to vote in the election at which such
candidate seeks to be elected.
A nomination petition of a
candidate for any other office shall be signed by a number of
voters equal to 5 percent of the total number of registered
voters eligible to vote in the last election for the filling
of the office the candidate is seeking and the signers of such
petition shall be registered and eligible to vote in the
election at which such candidate seeks to be elected.
However, in the case of a candidate seeking an office for
which there has never been an election or seeking an office in
a newly constituted constituency, the
percentage figure
number of votes cast
for the purposes of determining nominating petition
requirements only
shall be computed on the total number of
active
registered voters in the constituency who would have been
qualified to vote for such office had the election been held
at the last general election
prorated by the state wide
percentage of registered voters voting
and the signers of such petition shall be registered and
eligible to vote in the election at which such candidate seeks
to be elected.
However if in the last election for the filling of an office
the candidate qualified for the same office by nominating
petition or other provision of this subsection and received at
least 5 percent of the votes cast for that office the number
of signatures required shall be reduced by half or 50 percent;
or if the candidate received at least 10% of the votes cast
for that office the requirement for a nominating petition is
waived.
SECTION 4.
All laws and parts of laws in
conflict with this Act are repealed.
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