Don't limit access to get on ballot

From the Tuscaloosa News

Don Seibold
Wetumpka
November 27. 2006 3:30AM

Dear Editor: May I, as an independent voter, express my disgust with just two among several aspects of our electoral process?

First, it is with certain election officials who have been quoted in some newspapers sniveling because they had to expend a little extra effort and time processing lawfully generated write-in votes as is their duty under law.

Secondly and primarily, it is with Alabama’s obscenely overly restrictive ballot access law, which was instituted by Democratic and Republican legislators with the intent of making our elections exclusive to just them, and shutting out of the process other candidates who offer different and frequently better ideas on how to govern. This is to the detriment of Alabamians who don’t hear those views expressed as a direct consequence of those candidates being denied ballot and debate access.

Those few voters who find ways to access the views of minor party candidates expressed their support for them at the ballot box, and now the tally of their votes seems to be a mystery.