Document:New York Press Release 26 April 2007 Election Reform Unites Libertarians With Competition

Election Reform Unites Libertarians With Competition LIBERTARIAN PARTY OF NEW YORK http://www.ny.lp.org/ Contact: Richard Cooper, State Chair nylibertarian@hotmail.com ELECTION REFORM UNITES LIBERTARIANS WITH COMPETITION

Albany, NY 4/26/07--New York's minor political parties differ on many things, but the unfairness of the election laws provisions allowing access to the ballot unites them. America First Party of New York chair Bradley Maurer, Constitution Party of New York chair Burr Deitz, Green Party of New York chair Peter LaVenia, and Libertarian Party of New York chair Richard Cooper issued a statement in support of ballot access reform legislation currently in committee. Senate Bill 29 and Assembly Bill 575 would reduce the number of signatures required to get on the ballot for statewide office in New York from 15,000 to 7,500, and the number of signatures required on all other petitions from the current five percent to two and one-half percent of enrolled voters in the district. S. 446 and A.826 would reduce the number of signatures required for nominating petitions for congressional district from 3500 to 1200 and increase the filing time required for a special election to sixteen days.

Libertarian Chair Cooper says that “Eliminating these self-serving ballot requirements imposed by the establishment parties to prevent competition is a matter of simple justice and expanding choice for voters. My colleagues and I have different views on many issues, but facing the daunting prospect of gathering more signatures than the Republicrats and Democans do, after them and with the kicker that the prospective signer cannot sign another petition for the same office, certainly brings us together. Let us hope Spitzer supports this legislation.”

The chairmen stated, "This legislation is not perfect….However, this reduction in required signatures is certainly a step in the right direction. We urge the legislature to pass these bills and Governor Spitzer to sign them into law in fairness to the political process.”