Election Law Punishes Candidates with No Party Affiliation

Under New York City's archaic election laws, a candidate for a City Council seat without a party affiliation must collect three times the amount of signatures as their counterparts with an official party affiliation. This has led to candidates like Aaron Fraser claiming they are being punished for not fitting into the traditional party mold. As a result, Fraser and others are advocating for a change in election laws to ensure fair representation for all citizens.

Key Takeaways:

• Candidates without a party affiliation must collect three times the amount of signatures as those with an official party affiliation, according to New York City's election laws.
• Aaron Fraser, a City Council candidate for the 36th District, claims he is being punished for not having a party affiliation and must gather 3,000 signatures to get on the ballot.
• Fraser argues that this law is discriminatory and racist, as it was designed to keep certain groups out of the political process.
• The candidate is advocating for a change in election laws to ensure fair representation for all citizens, regardless of party affiliation.
• Other candidates who have faced similar challenges include those without a party affiliation, who have claimed they were unfairly disadvantaged.
• The election law has been criticized for being outdated and in need of a reform.

Statistics:

• 3,000: the number of signatures Aaron Fraser must collect to get on the ballot as a candidate without a party affiliation.
• 1:3 ratio: the uneven ratio of signatures required for candidates with and without party affiliations.
• 36th District: the area represented by Aaron Fraser as a candidate for City Council.
• 718-453-7178: the phone number listed for Aaron Fraser's campaign, Friends 4 Fraser.

Sources:

• PRNewswire-USNewswire: "Election Law Punishes Candidates with No Party Affiliation"
• Aaron Fraser's website: "Aaron Franco for City Council"
• Facebook: "Aaron Franco for City Council, 36th District"