Ballot access is one of the least visible and most consequential parts of American elections. Long before voters weigh in, the rules governing who can even appear on the ballot quietly shape the choices they're given - and for independent and third-party candidates, those rules are often the steepest hurdle of all.
This Thursday, June 18, a virtual town hall co-sponsored by the Foundation for Independent Voter Education (FIVE), the Forward Party, and Open Primaries will put those rules under the microscope, focusing on three states where the stakes are especially high: New Mexico, Texas, and Arizona.
The conversation runs from 5:30 to 6:30 PM ET and is free and open to the public.
Who's on the panel
The event features two advocates who have spent years working on the front lines of electoral reform.
Jeremy Gruber is the Senior Vice President of Open Primaries, a national nonprofit dedicated to more open and inclusive election systems. A lawyer and public policy advocate, Gruber has helped enact more than 60 state and federal laws and regulations and regularly testifies before state legislatures on opening the primaries.
He'll be joined by Oliver Hall, founder of the Center for Competitive Democracy. A nonpartisan 501(c)(3) focused on increasing electoral competition, the organization has litigated extensively to protect the rights of voters, candidates, and parties to participate regardless of affiliation. Hall is also the author of Death by a Thousand Signatures, a study of restrictive ballot access laws and the decline of electoral competition in the United States.
The discussion will be moderated by Sarah Lenti.
What the panel will cover
Rather than treating ballot access as an abstraction, the town hall is built around a practical, state-by-state comparison. Topics include the specific requirements and constraints each state imposes, how New Mexico, Texas, and Arizona differ from one another, and the particular barriers independent and non-major-party candidates face in getting onto the ballot.
Just as importantly, the conversation is meant to be solutions-focused. Panelists will discuss opportunities for reform and cross-partisan collaboration, along with concrete pathways for citizens who want to get involved in advocacy.
Why it matters for independent voters
With independents now among the largest blocs of the American electorate, the structural rules that govern candidate access have a direct bearing on whether those voters see themselves represented on the ballot. The town hall is designed to deepen public understanding of how these systems work, surface real candidate and voter experiences, and turn that awareness into informed civic action.
How to attend
The event is free. Readers can join by video or phone:
- Date: Thursday, June 16
- Time: 5:30 to 6:30 PM ET / 2:30 to 5:30 PM PT
- Event Page: https://home.forwardparty.com/ballot_access_town_hall
- Video Call: https://meet.google.com/avz-bdxm-xam
- Dial-In: +1 413-489-2831 — PIN: 422 297 274#
- Additional dial-in numbers: https://tel.meet/avz-bdxm-xam?pin=5485578499816