Ballot access fundamental to a free society

The right to petition for an independent candidate to be on the ballot for president is constitutionally protected by the First Amendment: the ultimate check on government corruption. But that check fails when our choices are limited to a single duopoly.

This is why we have ballot access laws permitting candidates, with the courage to challenge the duopoly controlling our options, to seek a place on the ballot and compete in an election. Promoting healthy competition is a sign of a healthy society, tending to make candidates more responsive to the needs of their constituents.

Indeed, the more voices participating in our elections, the healthier our society, as explained by the Supreme Court:

“All political ideas cannot and should not be channeled into the programs of our two major parties. History has amply proved the virtue of political activity by minority, dissident groups, which innumerable times have been in the vanguard of democratic thought and whose programs were ultimately accepted. … The absence of such voices would be a symptom of grave illness in our society.” — Sweezy v. New Hampshire, 354 U. S. 234, 354 U. S. 250-251

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is running for president as an independent candidate and his supporters will be out on the streets for a six-week period beginning April 16 with petitions, asking our neighbors to sign. Signing doesn’t mean you support Mr. Kennedy. It does mean you support democracy and a free society.

— Andi Novick Rhinebeck The writer is a retired attorney and the county coordinator for the Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Campaign in Ulster and Dutchess counties.