To the Editor:

The RFK Jr. presidential campaign is a teaching opportunity about ballot access in general.

Why is it so difficult for an independent candidate to get on the ballot in a general election when the major party candidates have guaranteed access?

Is there anything we can do about this?  It would have to be done at the state level, because the individual states have constitutional authority to run their own elections (citing Article 1, Section 4).

And what does it mean for the future of our democratic republic if the two-party system is able to block independent candidates from the ballot?

How can the Democratic party refuse to allow a contested presidential primary, refuse to allow debates, and in some states refuse to allow anyone other than Biden to appear on the ballot?  (The Republican party did the very same things four years ago when Trump was the incumbent).

 The answer is that the courts have consistently ruled that the two political parties are private clubs, and the primary elections are in their control.

They get to make the rules for ballot access, they fix the debate schedules, they decide who gets to be on stage, and there is no legal recourse.

The state legislatures get to decide whether or not registered independents get to vote in a party primary, and how long before the primary you have to join the party.

If Bobby succeeds in getting on the ballot in all fifty states (and D.C.) he will have provided an invaluable service in keeping our democratic republic within reach.

If you don't like the two-party system, you should sign the petition to place RFK Jr.'s name on the ballot. That doesn't mean you have to vote for Bobby.  Indeed, it means that you still have an open mind.

There are many other election issues -- campaign financing, gerrymandering, election integrity, voter suppression, lack of transparency -- to be addressed as well. 

All of these topics will be open for discussion at the ADK Food Hub, 320 Park Street, Tupper Lake, on Saturday May 4, from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. See you there.

Richard Hayes Phillips

Canton