Voting Rights Foundation

Fighting for a free market in American politics. Sharing the stories of voices shut out. Fixing the system so every voter, and candidate, has a real shot.

[Voting Rights Foundation @TheVotingRights]

NH independent Senate candidate Aaron Day has filed a federal lawsuit after the state Ballot Law Commission blocked his access to the ballot, raising constitutional questions about the legal barriers independent candidates face.

[Voting Rights Foundation @TheVotingRights]

Veterans for All Voters is seeking to intervene in a Texas lawsuit over the Republican Party's closed primary rules. The case could determine which voters can participate in primaries and how candidates qualify for the general election ballot.

[Voting Rights Foundation @TheVotingRights]

Open primary advocates in New York City submitted a ballot initiative petition to change how city elections are structured, potentially reshaping how candidates qualify and compete for city offices if voters approve it.

[Voting Rights Foundation @TheVotingRights]

Independent candidates for Rhode Island governor are in an active signature drive to meet petition requirements for ballot access. Without enough signatures, they cannot appear on the ballot at all, a procedural threshold that applies only to non-major-party candidates.

[Voting Rights Foundation @TheVotingRights]

Independent Tracey Tackett has qualified for the Ohio 4th Congressional District ballot, clearing the state's petition requirements without major-party affiliation. Non-major-party candidates in Ohio face signature thresholds that limit who reaches voters in November.

[Voting Rights Foundation @TheVotingRights]

A Florida judge denied Republican Paula Stark's bid to appear on the ballot for House District 47. With no GOP candidate, the seat flipped to Democrats. The ruling shows how ballot access decisions can determine election outcomes before a single vote is cast.

[Voting Rights Foundation @TheVotingRights]

A New Jersey judge removed an independent candidate from the Pompton Lakes ballot over a procedural challenge, blocking participation before voters could weigh in. Ballot access rules often create higher barriers for independent and third-party candidates than for major party nominees.

[Voting Rights Foundation @TheVotingRights]

Independent candidate Todd Sloan filed suit to secure ballot access in NY's 24th U.S. House District. The case highlights legal barriers independents face when trying to appear on ballots under New York's petition and qualification requirements.

[Voting Rights Foundation @TheVotingRights]

NH independent Senate candidate Aaron Day has filed a federal lawsuit after the state Ballot Law Commission blocked his access to the ballot, raising constitutional questions about the legal barriers independent candidates face.

[Voting Rights Foundation @TheVotingRights]

Citizens in New York City have submitted a ballot initiative that would change how elections for city office are conducted, affecting candidate qualification rules and election structure for all city races. Residents will likely vote on whether to adopt the new framework.

[Voting Rights Foundation @TheVotingRights]

A hearing has been scheduled in a New Hampshire ballot access case that could change how candidates qualify to appear on the state's ballot. The outcome may affect third-party and independent candidates seeking office in New Hampshire.

[Voting Rights Foundation @TheVotingRights]

Two independent candidates in Illinois's 4th U.S. House district face removal from the ballot after signature challenges. A lawyer urged the state elections board to preserve their access. Petition validity rules make independent ballot access significantly harder than for party candidates.

[Voting Rights Foundation @TheVotingRights]

Independent candidate Todd Sloan has filed suit to secure a spot on the ballot in New York's 24th U.S. House District, challenging the procedural requirements that blocked his access as a non-party candidate.

[Voting Rights Foundation @TheVotingRights]

Greg Ballard has qualified for Indiana's Secretary of State ballot under the Lincoln Party label, showing a third-party candidate successfully meeting the state's ballot access requirements. Voters in November will have a third option on the statewide ticket.

[Voting Rights Foundation @TheVotingRights]

LP of New Hampshire has appealed its disaffiliation by the Libertarian National Committee, asking the party's Judicial Committee to restore its affiliate status or launch an investigation. The outcome could affect ballot access for LP candidates in the state. [NH]

[Voting Rights Foundation @TheVotingRights]

Federal court struck down several Arkansas restrictions on initiative petition circulation, with a trial set for remaining issues. The ruling directly affects the rules governing how citizens can place measures on the state ballot through the petition process.

[Voting Rights Foundation @TheVotingRights]

Iowa Libertarian U.S. House candidate filed a lawsuit seeking to be restored to the November ballot after being removed. The case tests whether the state's ballot access process was applied correctly and could determine whether voters have that candidate as an option.

[Voting Rights Foundation @TheVotingRights]

Wyoming Senate candidate filed a federal lawsuit after the Secretary of State rejected his bid to appear on the ballot using only his first name. The case centers on whether state name registration rules can restrict how candidates identify themselves on official ballots.

[Voting Rights Foundation @TheVotingRights]

A new PBS News/NPR/Marist poll finds 37% of U.S. adults now believe political violence may be necessary to get the country back on track, up from 30% just eight months ago.

That number tracks with growing distrust in whether elections and representation actually work.

This is the case for VRF's mission: when people stop believing normal political competition can fix things, "extreme measures" start looking rational. More ballot access and real electoral competition is the pressure release valve.
#BallotAccess

[Voting Rights Foundation @TheVotingRights]

California's AB 1539 would require presidential candidates to submit additional paperwork to qualify for the state ballot, raising procedural requirements for ballot access. The bill has advanced through the legislature and affects all presidential candidates seeking to appear on California ballots.

[Voting Rights Foundation @TheVotingRights]

@AaronRDay Running for office should be a protected right. We hope you win Aaron Day.