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MARCH 15, 2005:
Libertarian Party Supports HB1721; Bill Will Restore Petition Rights To Voters, Parties, And Independents
For Immediate Release
Contact:
Patrick Dixon, Libertarian Party State Chair: 512-771-3936 chair@lptexas.org
Rock Howard, LPT Legislative Advisor, 512-296-4476, rockmh@austin.rr.com
Kris Overstreet, LPT Media Coordinator: 936-685-4992 cell 936-425-6523
media@lptexas.org
AUSTIN - Libertarian Party activists call for the quick passage of HB 1721,
filed by State Representative Todd Baxter (District 48, Republican) for
consideration by the Texas State House's Elections Committee.
Libertarians played a key role in crafting the bill and lobbying for its
support. Several co-authors for the bill are expected to add their names
to the bill this week.
"It has been great working with Rep Baxter and other legislators to craft
this bill and help restore some trust in the electoral process," said
Libertarian Party of Texas state chair Patrick Dixon. "Rep Baxter has been
very helpful and cooperative in this effort."
The bill would end a feature of Texas election law called "primary
screenout." Under existing law, voters who participate in a political
party's primary election or local party convention may not sign a ballot
access petition for political parties or independent candidates for office.
Texas is the last state in the US to retain this restriction. Since 1972,
the 6 other states with this provision have dropped it.
"It is time Texas respected the rights of voters," said Dixon. "Texas
currently stands alone in denying the right specifically stated in the
First Amendment to petition.
"When voters participated in the Republican and Democratic primaries in
March of 2004, nobody told them that they lost their right to sign a
petition. In May of 2004 when we were permitted to start collecting
petitions, we had to turn away these voters that wanted to exercise their
freedom of speech."
The Libertarian Party of Texas collected over 82,000 petition signatures in
2004 to qualify the party for the November general election ballot. Ballot
access drives by the Green Party, the Constitution Party, and Ralph Nader
failed to reach the required number.
Although the Libertarians are guaranteed ballot access in 2006, the Green
Party, the Constitution Party, and independent gubernatorial candidate
Kinky Friedman will have to petition for ballot access.
The text of the bill can be found at (www.capitol.state.tx.us/tlo/79R/billtext/HB01721I.HTM)
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