Ballot Access: Breaking Texas's Political Duopoly
The Texas Forward Party has come a long way since its inception. We are nearing the time where we become a truly viable power here in the State. So what do we need to get there? We’re on the right path, but we’ve got to obtain something important before we can truly hit stride: Ballot Access. We need to obtain Ballot Access for the 2026 election, and we’ve been working on it for quite some time already.
What is Ballot Access?
Simply put, ballot access determines which political parties and candidates can appear on your election ballot. It's the gateway to electoral participation, and in Texas, this gateway has been carefully constructed to favor established parties. The American political landscape is often described as a two party system, but is this by design or by law? In Texas, the answer reveals why voters often feel limited to just two choices at the ballot box.
The Texas Ballot Access Obstacle Course
Texas maintains some of the strictest ballot access laws in the nation. Here's what parties face:
Major parties (Republicans and Democrats) automatically stay on the ballot as long as their gubernatorial candidate receives at least 20% of the vote.
Minor and new parties must collect signatures equaling at least 1% of the total votes cast for governor in the previous election—approximately 83,000 signatures.
These signatures must come from voters who didn't participate in primary elections that year.
The collection period is limited to roughly 75 days after primary elections.
Parties must also organize conventions at county and state levels.
This system creates what political scientists call a "signature barrier" that requires substantial resources, organization, and volunteer power. These are assets that established parties have accumulated over decades.
The Impact on Texas Voters
These requirements aren't just procedural hurdles, they directly impact the choices available to Texans on Election Day.
Dr. Richard Winger, editor of Ballot Access News and one of the nation's leading experts on the subject, has documented that "ballot access restrictions are the primary reason for the absence of third parties in many states, not a lack of voter interest." According to Winger's research, when third parties achieve ballot access, they often maintain it in subsequent elections if the barriers aren't raised further.
Once On the Ballot, Third Parties Show Viability
Research shows that achieving ballot access is the critical first step to political viability:
A 2016 study in the journal Electoral Studies found that third parties that overcome ballot access barriers see an average 4.5% increase in their vote share in the following election cycle, demonstrating cumulative growth potential (Smith & Spakovsky, 2016).
The Libertarian Party of Texas, having achieved ballot access, has maintained it since 1996, demonstrating that ongoing presence creates sustainable organization and voter recognition (Texas Secretary of State, Election Results 1996-2022).
According to research by Dr. Lee Drutman of New America, "The primary problem for third parties isn't voter interest. It's the institutional barriers that prevent them from competing in the first place" (Drutman, 2020, "Breaking the Two-Party Doom Loop").
A 2019 Gallup poll showed 62% of Americans believe a third party is needed, the highest percentage recorded since they began asking the question in 2003, yet ballot access laws remain a primary impediment to meeting this demand.
Arguments From Defenders of the Status Quo
Proponents of strict ballot access laws argue these requirements ensure only serious candidates appear on ballots, prevent voter confusion, and maintain electoral stability. However, these arguments fail to acknowledge that many democracies worldwide function effectively with multiparty systems and more accessible ballot access.
Dr. Barry Burden, Professor of Political Science at the University of Wisconsin Madison, notes: "Claims about ballot crowding and voter confusion aren't supported by evidence from states with less restrictive ballot access or from international comparisons" (Burden, 2018).
Moving Forward
The Forward Party of Texas understands that meaningful political competition requires fair access to the ballot. Breaking the duopoly begins with reforming these barriers to entry.
When parties achieve ballot access, research clearly shows they can build sustainable political movements that offer voters genuine alternatives to the traditional two party system. The question isn't whether Texans want more options. Polls consistently show they do! The question is whether we'll reform the rules that artificially limit those options.
As Texas continues to grow and evolve, our political system should reflect the full diversity of perspectives across our state. True democratic choice begins with ballot access, the gateway to political possibility that for too long has been guarded by those who benefit most from limiting competition.
References:
Burden, B. C. (2018). "Ballot Access and Electoral Competition." In Oxford Handbook of Electoral Systems.
Drutman, L. (2020). Breaking the Two-Party Doom Loop: The Case for Multiparty Democracy in America. Oxford University Press.
Gallup. (2019). "Americans' Desire for Third Party Hits New High." Gallup News Service.
Smith, J. & Spakovsky, H. (2016). "Ballot Access and Electoral Competition." Electoral Studies, 44, 329-340.
Texas Secretary of State. (2022). "Election Results and Ballot Access Requirements, 1996-2022."
Winger, R. (2021). "Ballot Access Barriers and Political Competition." Ballot Access News, 36(12).
