Free and Equal Elections
Public Group
Description
The Free & Equal Elections Foundation is a non-partisan, non-profit, 501(c)4 public policy advocacy group dedicated to election reform and improving ballot access laws in the United States. Many states have restrictive requirements that make it difficult for Independent and Third Party candidates to place their names on the ballot. Free & Equal will challenge these laws, through lobbying of state legislators, court challenges, and initiatives. Free & Equal will also engage in activism for causes independent of the current two-party duopoly.
During the 2008 Presidential Election, Free & Equal debuted with a Presidential Debate at the Mayflower Renaissance Hotel in Washington, DC. The Free & Equal debate was the ONLY Presidential debate featuring Independent and Third-Party candidates held during the 2008 election to be broadcast to a national audience. The debate was broadcast LIVE on C-SPAN2 in Primetime. Following the success of our Presidential Debate, a Vice-Presidential Debate was Held in Las Vegas, NV. Please click on this link to view the debates: http://www.freeandequal.org/debates/
Free & Equal will take over the next two years to eliminate the restrictive ballot access laws that make it difficult for Independent and Third Party candidates to secure their place on the ballot.
News
Debate to be Held in Du Quoin October 9th
The Free & Equal Elections Foundation will hold a Gubernatorial Debate for 2010 Candidates in Du Quoin, Il on October 9th, 2009.
ALL 14 candidates who have announced their intentions of running in the race are invited to participate.
Free & Equal Founder and Chair Christina Tobin today updated members of the press on the debate’s latest developments:
“The debate will begin at 6PM and will continue until 8PM. I will serve as the moderator for the debate. At this time, three candidates are confirmed, and we are in discussions with many others. This debate will be unique in that ALL the candidates, including Independent and Third party candidates are invited to participate. We are confident that the debate will be well-attended, both by the candidates themselves, and the voting public.”
The event will be sponsored by Free & Equal, and will take place as part of the Midwest Liberty Fest in Du Quoin. The debate will include members of the Democratic and Republican parties as well as Third-Party candidates and Independents.
The Free & Equal Elections Foundation is committed to ensuring that the ballot choices of the voters of Illinois are not limited to members of only two parties.
“Free & Equal is committed to giving all candidates a forum, regardless of political ideology or partisan affiliation,” said Tobin. “It is imperative that the voters have a chance to hear all the candidates, not just those who may appear in the headlines regularly.”
The Free & Equal Elections Foundation is a non partisan, non-profit 501 (c)4 public policy advocacy organization dedicated to eliminating restrictive ballot access laws that target Independent and Third-Party Candidates.
Free & Equal is committed to reforming restrictive ballot access laws across the nation, so that all candidates have a chance to be heard, regardless of political affiliation.
During the 2008 election, Free & Equal held an independent Presidential Debate in Washington, DC. The Free & Equal debate was the ONLY Presidential debate featuring Independent and Third-Party candidates held during the 2008 election to be broadcast to a national audience. The debate was broadcast Live by C-SPAN.
Leadership
Christina M. Tobin is the Founder of Free & Equal Elections Foundation. As Ralph Nader’s national ballot access coordinator in 2008, she helped gather over 500,000 signatures to ensure that voters had a choice in who they cast their vote for. She has secured ballot lines for numerous independent candidates and alternative political parties including the Constitution, Democrat, Green, Libertarian, Republican and Socialist Equality parties.
Sean Haugh is the Executive Director of Free & Equal Elections Foundation. As Political Director of the Libertarian Party in 2008, he coordinated petitioning and legal efforts for the party, while sharing resources and building relationships with other Third Parties and Independent candidates. Previously, Haugh has managed three ballot drives for the Libertarians in North Carolina, one of the hardest states in the country to gain ballot access. He was also part of successful lobbying efforts for reform in NC, and is a plaintiff in a current lawsuit seeking further reforms in NC.
Christopher Thrasher, serves as the Political Director for the Free & Equal Elections Foundation. An independent political consultant, he was the Deputy National Campaign Coordinator for the 2008 Presidential campaign of Senator Mike Gravel. A registered Libertarian, Thrasher shares the foundation’s conviction that ALL candidates should have a reasonable chance to put their name on the ballot, regardless of political party affiliation
