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<h1>ELECTION LAWS</h1>

<b>We call for  an  end  to  government  control  of  political  parties,
consistent with First  Amendment rights to  freedom of association and
freedom of expression.  As private voluntary groups, political parties
should  be  allowed  to  establish  their  own  rules  for  nomination
procedures, primaries, and conventions.</b><p>
We urge repeal  of the Federal  Election Campaign Act which suppresses
voluntary support of  candidates and  parties,  compels  taxpayers  to
subsidize politicians and  political views which  many do not wish  to
support, invades the  privacy of American  citizens, and protects  the
Republican and Democratic  parties  from  competition.   This  law  is
particularly dangerous as it enables the federal government to control
the elections of  its own administrators  and  beneficiaries,  thereby
further reducing its accountability to the citizens.
<p>
Elections at all  levels should be in the control of those who wish to
participate in or  support them voluntarily.  <b>We therefore call for an
end to any  tax-financed subsidies to  candidates or parties  and  the
repeal of all  laws which restrict  voluntary  financing  of  election
campaigns.</b>
<p>
Many state legislatures  have  established  prohibitively  restrictive
laws which in  effect exclude alternative  candidates and parties from
their rightful place  on election ballots.   Such laws wrongfully deny
ballot access to  political candidates and groups and further deny the
voters their right  to consider all  legitimate alternatives.  We hold
that no state  has an interest  to protect in this area except for the
fair and efficient conduct of elections.
<p>
The Australian ballot system, introduced into the United States in the
late nineteenth century,  is an abridgement  of freedom of  expression
and of voting  rights.  Under it,  the names  of  all  the  officially
approved candidates are  printed  in  a  single  government  sponsored
format and the  voter indicates his  or her choice by marking it or by
writing in an  approved but  unlisted  candidate's  name.   We  should
return to the  previous electoral system  where there was no  official
ballot or candidate approval at all, and therefore no state or federal
restriction of access to a "single ballot."  Instead, voters submitted
their own choices  and had the  option of  using  "tickets"  or  cards
printed by candidates or political parties.
<p>
In order to grant voters a full range of choice in federal, state, and
local elections, we  propose the addition  of the alternative "None of
the above is  acceptable" to all  ballots.  We further propose that in
the event that  "none of the above is acceptable" receives a plurality
of votes in  any election, the  elective office for that  term  should
remain unfilled and unfunded.
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	<title>Libertarian Party Platform - ELECTION LAWS</title>
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	<h1>ELECTION LAWS</h1>

	<b>We call for an end to government control of political parties,
	consistent with First Amendment rights to freedom of association and
	freedom of expression. As private voluntary groups, political parties
	should be allowed to establish their own rules for nomination
	procedures, primaries, and conventions.</b><p>
	We urge repeal of the Federal Election Campaign Act which suppresses
	voluntary support of candidates and parties, compels taxpayers to
	subsidize politicians and political views which many do not wish to
	support, invades the privacy of American citizens, and protects the
	Republican and Democratic parties from competition. This law is
	particularly dangerous as it enables the federal government to control
	the elections of its own administrators and beneficiaries, thereby
	further reducing its accountability to the citizens.
	<p>
	Elections at all levels should be in the control of those who wish to
	participate in or support them voluntarily. <b>We therefore call for an
	end to any tax-financed subsidies to candidates or parties and the
	repeal of all laws which restrict voluntary financing of election
	campaigns.</b>
	<p>
	Many state legislatures have established prohibitively restrictive
	laws which in effect exclude alternative candidates and parties from
	their rightful place on election ballots. Such laws wrongfully deny
	ballot access to political candidates and groups and further deny the
	voters their right to consider all legitimate alternatives. We hold
	that no state has an interest to protect in this area except for the
	fair and efficient conduct of elections.
	<p>
	The Australian ballot system, introduced into the United States in the
	late nineteenth century, is an abridgement of freedom of expression
	and of voting rights. Under it, the names of all the officially
	approved candidates are printed in a single government sponsored
	format and the voter indicates his or her choice by marking it or by
	writing in an approved but unlisted candidate's name. We should
	return to the previous electoral system where there was no official
	ballot or candidate approval at all, and therefore no state or federal
	restriction of access to a "single ballot." Instead, voters submitted
	their own choices and had the option of using "tickets" or cards
	printed by candidates or political parties.
	<p>
	In order to grant voters a full range of choice in federal, state, and
	local elections, we propose the addition of the alternative "None of
	the above is acceptable" to all ballots. We further propose that in
	the event that "none of the above is acceptable" receives a plurality
	of votes in any election, the elective office for that term should
	remain unfilled and unfunded.
	<p>
	<p>
	<p>
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