News   /   Reports

3rd parties in US say they are systematically suppressed

Ramin Mazaheri

Press TV, Chicago

Washington regularly denounces other countries which don’t allow certain parties or candidates to run for office, but what’s rarely discussed is the vast amount of obstacles thrown up by Democrats and Republicans to keep third parties off presidential, congressional and local ballots.

A wide array of tactics are used: in Montana Democrats intimidated voters into withdrawing their support for the Green Party. State election commissions demand petitions with tens of thousands of signatures, only to reject them on technicalities.

Because the Greens refuse corporate donations, their campaign funds are especially vulnerable to newly-invented filing fees and the costs of lawyers. Above all, litigation is used to tie up third parties just long enough to keep their candidates off the ballots.

While Republicans generally target the Libertarian Party, Democrats go after the Green Party, but both the mainstream parties ultimately work together to maintain their two party duopoly.

Many say that the systematic suppression of third parties is a form of voter fraud, because it obviously calls into question the integrity, fairness and transparency of American elections.

Despite the intimidation efforts third parties do have a major impact: From Florida in the year 2000 to the swing-states of Wisconsin and Pennsylvania in 2016 the Green Party has provided the decisive margin. Many expect third parties to once again play a deciding role this November.


Press TV’s website can also be accessed at the following alternate addresses:

www.presstv.co.uk

SHARE THIS ARTICLE
US
Press TV News Roku