Ballot Access Laws In America

“Our democracy is but a name. We vote. What does that mean? … We choose between two … bodies of autocrats. We choose between Tweedledum and Tweedledee” (qtd. in Gillespie 16). The United States’ democratic process has been whittled down from a grand democracy, allowing for much competition, to a two-party controlled system. The election process has come to having only two competing candidates each coming from one of the major political parties, either the Democrats or the Republicans. Many Americans probably would not be able to identify any of the candidates from minority parties in the 2016 election; however, without a doubt they can identify the candidates of the two major political parties. This problem stems from the regulations that maintain the two party system, ballot access laws. These ballot access laws are disruptive to the democratic process and hinder the people’s ability to perform their civil duties. If America does not make a move to change ballot access laws it is inevitable that the two-party disease will intensify and a large portion of the American people will be left without representation as the two dominant political parties control the issues discussed in the nation. The Democratic and Republican parties have become so large and powerful that there is no room for candidates of …show more content…
Still, these laws make it substantially more difficult for serious candidates from third parties to participate in the political process. Because of the requirements placed on them, it is problematic for third parties to make their contribution to society. Therefore, if the ballot access laws were amended in every state to be less stringent, while still maintaining the serious vetting process required to keep out unworthy candidates, it would be more beneficial to the nation and by association, the