I'm writing a paper on the House and the Senate. I need to know how an independent can get on the ballot? Is it just getting signatures and supporters?
136942
It would depend on your local States requirements as far as signatures on petitions are concerned as well as the office running for.  The populous state of California may have a higher number of signatures required than say North Dakota or Wyoming.  There is also a filing fee, in which for some offices is one charge with petitions and another without, however in the case of Federal Offices I am sure there is something a little more standardized than you will find for more local elections.  You must also have someone selected as treasurer or a responsible party for reporting all contributions to your campaign and how the money is spent, what is left over or how much debt the campaign has.  Best of luck with your paper.  You can contact your local county election office or the state in which you reside for more detailed information.
417714
I agree 100% with you, but lets take it one step further. In libraries and community building machines like automatic teller machines could be placed and from time ballot was printed till 8 o'clock election day you could enter your voting card get paper ballot an envelope vote at your leisure put it into envelope, and with magmatic voting card deposited it to be collected and counted election night. This would end 3 hour time problem. Biggest problem would setting up system to prevent counterfeit collection boxes from being put into system, but with GPA tracking it could be overcome. Primaries could also be done this way if you were allowed to pick you party day you voted.
38850
you need signature from registered voters
436856
Look at liberman. The democrats didn't support him. He ran as an independent and took the senate. \nPlus you have to remember they go into primaries to see who gets in for their party.
625709
well, i learnt it in year 6 but lke i have forgotten the exact detail but the main is:\n1. the senate go through the bill\n2. goes to the house of repesentatives\n3. if they lke it they make it a referendum\n\nit may be in the wrong order so yeah... hope its correct\nhope dis helps baibai
517456
We definitely need choices other than the ones we have now, but the game's rigged to keep both in power. I honestly don't see much difference between Republicans and Democrats, as both are heavily influenced by big-money interests with their own agendas.\n\nOne thing keeping a third party from making a move nationally are the laws that decide who can appear on the ballot. These vary from state to state, and seem set up to make it hard as hell for anyone but the 2 parties to be represented.\n\nPeople need to see beyond stupid slogans, celebrity endorsements and snazzy advertising, and concentrate on what each candidate's really about. The voting record of all our representatives, local, state and federal, is available (usually online), as this is a public record. The info is there......
245285
Very good and very idealistic question. One gets to local seats of power by commanding money. You come up with it yourself. No money, no job. Used to be we had political machines, not much of that anymore. Money is king when you have to buy TV time and yard signs. \n\nAfter that, it gets worse. You have to become a senator or governor to get any chance of becoming a Presidential candidate. Look at the pathways to those power posts. \n\nSorry, it has not been possible that I know of since maybe Harry Truman (and even then he had a powerful Kansas City political machine that got him tapped as VP).\n\nNot much equality there. No real people. What is it that Doug Addams said in Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy? Oh, "the job of the president is to distract us from who really runs things." That's right.
169099
Get involved. I've written my congressmen and 2 senators every time they voted on legislation involved with the war to either show my approval or disdain. Make sure they hear your voice. Some may write you back, Some may not. Register to vote or, if you can't, get involved with candidates (no age limit to do this) and maybe even join a Young Republicans or Young Democrats group. Volunteer for a candidate. Just get involved. As much as possible.
78317
it's always best to rate each candidate individually.  The only advantage of voting a straight ticket is to avoid political gridlock.  \n\nBut, if quality people are elected from either party, then gridlock won't be a problem anyway.
422706
There are 49 Democrats and 49 Republicans, with 2 independents.  But both independents will caucus with the Dems (voting to determine senate leadership), so the control of the Senate will go to the Dems.  For voting purposes, it is pretty much evenly divided, depending on how the independents vote (Lieberman will probably tend Republican on foreign policy matters, Democrat on domestic policy issues).
426692
To answer your question:  Unless your county clerk's office has it online, that's it, probably nowhere else!\nMy county clerk has the COUNTY specific ballot online, but I just called them and they told me "only when precinct committeement offices are up for election do we print a precinct specific ballot for a 'sample'. " And right now, we only have county and statewide offices up for election.\nSo, hope that helps you out.
344404
Sometimes because of late changes or because they have not obtained the proper number of petition signatures, a candidate's name may not appear on the ballot.  Generally Democrats and Republicans are listed as well as often Green, Libertarian parties etc.  The term "write-in" refers to the candidate not appearing on the ballot so the person voting must specify who they are voting for himself.
413823
First, it's in your textbook.  Second, if you copy what anyone writes here, it's called plagiarism and you can get expelled for it.  That said, my opinion won't help much.\n\nThe idea that minor parties positively strengthen the United States' two-party system is a crock.  What it's done so far is steal votes from one side or the other, making it to the point that people now believe that if you don't vote against the party you hate the most (Hate Dems?  You have to vote Republican!  Hate the G.O.P.?  You have to vote Democrat!) you are throwing your vote away.  People regularly get incensed when a person mentions they plan to vote his or her conscience and accuse the voter of wasting his or her vote.  I suppose the fact most people are sheep and don't vote conscience but their "team" (a.k.a. party affiliation) has a greater effect on keeping the two-party system together, influencing independent-minded people who fear the bigger idiot getting into office enough to vote for the lesser one.\n\nNow, your teacher doesn't want to hear that, even if it is true.  So, somewhere in your book in that chapter you're studying in class (possibly in bold text) is the answer.
98772
Try:\nhttp://www.house.gov/writerep/\nFollow the instructions.
635245
Join your local political party of choice, volunteer for a good few years, door knocking, talking to people, campaigning, getting known in your community. Then, ideally volunteer in an MP's office to see if you will like the job. Then work your way up, get some elected positions under your belt at local level...maybe become a local councillor. Attend lots of local-level party meetings and try and change things from the inside. Then eventually stand for a reasonably safe seat in your (ideally local) constituency, and hope for the best. Et viola!
159718
Yes- write, email, or phone their office. While they may not agree with your position on a piece of legislation, and your voice may not single-handedly change their mind, there's a staffer in their office that keeps up with constituent correspondence. If the Congressman/ Senator receives enough constituent input on one side or the other on a bill, they will take that into consideration when voting on the bill... \n \nFor example, if a bill comes up and the Congressman receives constituent correspondence that supports the bill at a rate of 90%, and 10% oppose the bill, he'll most likely vote the way his constituents have asked him to. If he gets 50-50 response, he's probably going to vote the party line. \n\nIf they didn't, they realize that come next election, they may not end up back in their seat in Congress.
624486
instant runoff voting would make a third party candidate a viable option:\n\nIRV is a reform that allows voters to rank candidates in order of preference, so that in cases where there is no initial majority winner, a runoff recount can be conducted without a new election to determine which candidate is actually preferred by a majority of voters.\n\nThe IRV works basically as follows: Instead of just casting one vote for one candidate, voters rank the candidates: 1,2,3, etc. (hence, the motto, "it's as easy as 1-2-3."). If no candidate receives a majority of the #1 votes, the candidate with the least total of #1 votes is eliminated. The second choice votes from these ballots are then transferred to the other candidates. The ballots are recounted, and candidates are eliminated in this fashion until 1 winner emerges with a majority of the vote. The animated links to the left can help clarify this simple process, but let's talk about why it's a superior voting system, first:\n\nWhen there are more than 2 candidates, it ensures the winner has a majority. \nWithout IRV, the winner can win with less than 50% of the vote. How do we really know they have a mandate? \n\nIt will allow more candidates, including independents and third-parties, to get involved in a race, without being accused of "spoiling" the elections. \nEven if your favorite candidate comes in last, at least IRV allows your next favorite candidate to be counted. No more wasting your vote, and no more spoilers. \n\nIt will decrease negative campaigning. To win, candidates need to get some 2nd and 3rd place votes, as well as 1st place votes. \nThey'll be less likely to "go negative" if they need their opponent's voters, too. \n\nIRV saves money. \nSome states and local elections hold runoffs weeks later to pick the winner. IRV holds the runoff all in one election--saving money.