Graphic Credits: Jill2016 website
Jill Stein is poised to spoil or win the 2016 election for president of the United States. Last week Stein’s campaign released data showing that she has successfully gained access to 37 of the nation’s 50 state ballots.
Ballot access is automatically given to the nominees of the Republican Party and the Democratic Party. In order for an Independent or other political party to be listed on the ballot in each of the states, they must secure a predetermined number of signatures on a petition requesting to be placed on the ballot.
It is not an easy process to gain access to enough state ballots via the petition route. Bernie Sanders, a life-long Independent, stated that the reason he ran as a Democrat this year is because of the difficulty involved in organizing 50 different petition drives. The Green Party has been fielding candidates for President since the 1980s and are not neophytes when it comes to gaining ballot access.
Stein’s ballot access initiative ensures that she is listed on enough state ballots to garner 270 electoral college votes, the magic number needed to become the 45th president. The only state west of the Mississippi, where she has been denied ballot access is South Dakota. The western part of the country has a large number of electoral college votes. Nevada and Oklahoma are still in litigation. The petitioning process is ongoing in Wyoming and North Dakota.
East of the Mississippi, voters in South Carolina, Georgia and Indiana will be able to write-in Stein’s name. However, voters must write-in the candidate’s name exactly as it appears on her qualifying documents. Green Party members are still actively seeking signatures in Kentucky.
Additionally, petitions have been filed in New Hampshire, Connecticut and Virginia. Green Party officials say they are “cautiously optimistic” that enough valid signatures have been collected these three states to permit Stein’s name to appear on the ballot.
Meanwhile, as the political world turns, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton appears to be cruising into the White House. But like 2008, when an unknown freshman Senator with big ears and a funny sounding name came out of nowhere to spoil her sure victory, Clinton has to be concerned about a strong showing from Stein, who could win it, thereby spoiling Clinton’s date with her destiny.
Harold Michael Harvey is an American novelist and essayist, the author of Paper puzzle and Justice in the Round; and the host of Beyond the Law with Harold Michael Harvey. He can be contacted at haroldmichaelharvey.com.