Pandemic further limits electoral process access by some candidates; Alliance Party urges e-signatures to be allowed for candidate nomination

WINNSBORO, S.C., May 14, 2020 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- The Alliance Party, the national organizational arm of a political reform movement, with affiliates and candidates in two dozen states, is calling on the states to enact legislation allowing voters to provide electronic signatures on petitions to place candidates on ballots because in-person contact to gather signatures is impossible during the pandemic.

"There are already far too many impediments to ballot access by candidates who are not members of the two ruling parties," said Roque "Rocky" De La Fuente, the Alliance Party's nominee for president of the United States. "Allowing the pandemic to further constrain and control the electoral process flies in the face of every sacred principle of Democracy so cherished by our founding fathers."

De La Fuente has filed lawsuits in several states to bring about changes needed to expand ballot access for him and other candidates who are not part of the ruling two-party system.

According to Ballotpedia: Electronic signature software may be used to gather electronic petition signatures. Using such software, individuals may electronically sign an initiative or referendum petition online from home or another location, or they may be required to electronically sign on a petition circulator's mobile device. For candidate nominating petitions, government websites may allow electronic signing through the submission of an ID number, such as a driver's license number.

ILLINOIS LEADS THE WAY

After agreeing that the pandemic has limited ballot access by restricting personal contact needed to have candidate nominating petitions signed, the Illinois Supreme Court ruled last month that for only this election cycle, petition signatures may be collected remotely. Candidates may mail voters a petition or share a digital file online or by email. Voters then can print it out, sign it and either send a hard copy to the candidate through the mail or electronically in an emailed attachment or as a photograph.

"Of course, we welcome the ruling by the Illinois Supreme Court and urge other states to take the same action," said Timothy P. Cotton, National Political Director for the Alliance Party and the De La Fuente campaign. "As expected, a lawsuit from outside of the two ruling parties ? that consistently obstruct choice and competition ? has brought about this result. It is a sad day in America when you must file a lawsuit be able to fully participate in our Democracy. The Alliance Party urges other states to do the right thing and follow the progressive example set by Illinois, Massachusetts and a handful of other states."

ABOUT THE ALLIANCE PARTY

The Alliance Party and its candidates believe that we should put our national effort towards excelling in the critical areas that determine quality of life for Americans, our global communities, and our planet itself. This requires that at a national level we have a unified vision of what success looks like, as well as unity of effort to achieve our objectives. We believe we must immediately set our sights on winning the gold in the critical areas of economic renewal, climate change, providing quality and affordable healthcare, and educating the future generations of Americans to successfully compete on the world stage. These tasks should begin immediately, Without regard for partisan politics, ideological constraints, or historical limitations. To learn more, visit TheAllianceParty.com

SOURCE The Alliance Party