The Libertarian Party of Oklahoma is encouraging voters in that state not to mark their ballots for either George Bush or John Kerry on election day -- and since those names will be the only two on the ballot, the presidential ballot should simply be left blank, leaders say.
Oklahoma is one of only two states where Libertarian Party presidential candidate Michael Badnarik is not expected to be on the ballot. Libertarians collected more than 26,000 petition signatures earlier this year to get on the ballot; in 40 states that would have been enough to ensure ballot access, but it was only about half as many as Oklahoma requires.
The Libertarian Party joined the Green and Constitution parties in advising all voters in Oklahoma against voting for either the Republican or Democrat candidate, pointing out that every other state in the nation has at least three presidential candidates on official ballots.
Even those who say they can still vote for Libertarian Party presidential candidate Michael Badnarik or one of the other "third-party" candidates will be disappointed: Oklahoma is one of the few states that doesn't allow write-in candidates.
All other states that don't allow write-ins will have at least four presidential candidates on their ballots, representatives of the OKLP said.
Michael Peroutka of the Constitution Party and independent Ralph Nader are each on 37 ballots, and David Cobb of the Green Party is on 28.
The Libertarian Party had filed a lawsuit seeking an injunction to be included in the November elections, but the injunction was denied by Judge Bryan Dixon in July. The OKLP is appealing to the State Supreme Court, but that hearing will not occur in time to include Libertarian candidates in this year's election. "There's not much reason to vote in the presidential election in Oklahoma," said OKLP Chairman Steve Galpin. "President George Bush and Senator John Kerry both favor the PATRIOT ACT, they both want to continue the war in Iraq, both support gun control, and both will continue to make government bigger.
"Since there aren't any other choices, voters shouldn't make any choice at all."
James Branum, state co-chair of the Green Party, compared Oklahoma elections to those in totalitarian countries.
"In dictatorships, elections are just for show," Branum said. "The government only lets approved candidates participate, and the outcome is pre-determined. Since Bush has a bigger lead in here than even in Texas, the presidential election in Oklahoma is meaningless."
Voters who don't mark their ballots for one of the two candidates for President may find their ballot rejected by the optical scanner machines. If that happens, they should ask for assistance from election workers.
Galpin said he expects no more than minimal problems for those who choose no on both Bush and Kerry.
"Are they going to force you to vote for one of the state-approved candidates?" he asked.
26,000? 26 fucking THOUSAND people don't have the ability to vote with their conscious. That's bullshit.
I did think it was kinda funny how the Green party lady tried to blame it on Bush. I guess she forgot the whole bloated state government and corrupt state legislatures that have been drawing up laws to pass restricting all sorts of mundane things for almost 100 years now. That stupid whore, hahaha, i called her a whore...yeah
I found the best night of the week to not sleep. Tuesday is really lax, so i just stayed up all last nite and wrote a paper. I finished that paper at 4:50 this afternoon, 10 minutes before it was due, because i found out that there was a major flaw in it, so i rewrote it in 3 hours and it actually ended up longer and better i think, so woot for myself...
I won't be back to town till thanksgiving, so keep in touch.
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