Coalition on Free and Open Elections
Encyclopedia
The Coalition for Free and Open Elections (COFOE) is a nonpartisan organization in the United States
that aims to promote fair ballot access
. COFOE was founded in 1985, when representatives from across the political spectrum met in the New York City law office of former U.S. Attorney General Ramsey Clark
.
Participants in the early days of COFOE included political independents and members of the Socialist Party USA
; the Libertarian Party
; the Communist Party
; the Citizens Party; the Prohibition Party; and the New Alliance Party
. One of the early chairs of COFOE was Socialist David McReynolds
, who was succeeded by Ann Rosenhaft and then by Si Gerson
of the Communist Party. It has largely been due to the steadfast work of Richard Winger
, editor and publisher of Ballot Access News
, that COFOE has survived, and grown, as an organization.
COFOE has filed amicus briefs in several court cases relating to ballot access.
In the late 1990s a national ballot access organization with a focus similar to that of COFOE held several meetings in the Washington, DC area, attended by members of the Reform Party
, Libertarian Party
, Green Party
, Natural Law Party
, Socialist Party USA
, and various independents and others. This new national ballot access coalition discussed the possibility of formally constituting a tax-exempt civic organization for purposes of ballot access litigation and education; at one point some participants in this group considered borrowing the COFOE name.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
that aims to promote fair ballot access
Ballot access
Ballot access rules, called nomination rules outside the United States, regulate the conditions under which a candidate or political party is either entitled to stand for election or to appear on voters' ballots...
. COFOE was founded in 1985, when representatives from across the political spectrum met in the New York City law office of former U.S. Attorney General Ramsey Clark
Ramsey Clark
William Ramsey Clark is an American lawyer, activist and former public official. He worked for the U.S. Department of Justice, which included service as United States Attorney General from 1967 to 1969, under President Lyndon B. Johnson...
.
Participants in the early days of COFOE included political independents and members of the Socialist Party USA
Socialist Party USA
The Socialist Party USA is a multi-tendency democratic-socialist party in the United States. The party states that it is the rightful continuation and successor to the tradition of the Socialist Party of America, which had lasted from 1901 to 1972.The party is officially committed to left-wing...
; the Libertarian Party
Libertarian Party (United States)
The Libertarian Party is the third largest and fastest growing political party in the United States. The political platform of the Libertarian Party reflects its brand of libertarianism, favoring minimally regulated, laissez-faire markets, strong civil liberties, minimally regulated migration...
; the Communist Party
Communist Party USA
The Communist Party USA is a Marxist political party in the United States, established in 1919. It has a long, complex history that is closely related to the histories of similar communist parties worldwide and the U.S. labor movement....
; the Citizens Party; the Prohibition Party; and the New Alliance Party
New Alliance Party
The New Alliance Party was an American political party formed in New York City in 1979. Its immediate precursor was an umbrella organization known as the Labor Community Alliance for Change, whose member groups included the coalition of Grass Roots Women and the New York City Unemployed and...
. One of the early chairs of COFOE was Socialist David McReynolds
David McReynolds
David McReynolds is an American democratic socialist and pacifist activist who described himself as "a peace movement bureaucrat" during his 40-year career with Liberation magazine and the War Resisters League...
, who was succeeded by Ann Rosenhaft and then by Si Gerson
Si Gerson
Simon W. Gerson , also known as Si Gerson, was a noted leader of the Communist Party USA. In particular, he was considered its leading expert on campaigns and election...
of the Communist Party. It has largely been due to the steadfast work of Richard Winger
Richard Winger
Richard Lee Winger is the publisher and editor of Ballot Access News. He sits on the editorial board of the Election Law Journal and has been accepted as an expert on election law in federal courts in nine states, including California...
, editor and publisher of Ballot Access News
Ballot Access News
Ballot Access News is a U.S.-based monthly online newsletter edited and published by Richard Winger of California, an expert on ballot access law in the United States...
, that COFOE has survived, and grown, as an organization.
COFOE has filed amicus briefs in several court cases relating to ballot access.
In the late 1990s a national ballot access organization with a focus similar to that of COFOE held several meetings in the Washington, DC area, attended by members of the Reform Party
Reform Party of the United States of America
The Reform Party of the United States of America is a political party in the United States, founded in 1995 by Ross Perot...
, Libertarian Party
Libertarian Party (United States)
The Libertarian Party is the third largest and fastest growing political party in the United States. The political platform of the Libertarian Party reflects its brand of libertarianism, favoring minimally regulated, laissez-faire markets, strong civil liberties, minimally regulated migration...
, Green Party
Green Party (United States)
The Green Party of the United States is a nationally recognized political party which officially formed in 1991. It is a voluntary association of state green parties. Prior to national formation, many state affiliates had already formed and were recognized by other state parties...
, Natural Law Party
United States Natural Law Party
The Natural Law Party was a United States political party affiliated with the international Natural Law Party. It was founded in 1992 and mostly dissolved in 2004...
, Socialist Party USA
Socialist Party USA
The Socialist Party USA is a multi-tendency democratic-socialist party in the United States. The party states that it is the rightful continuation and successor to the tradition of the Socialist Party of America, which had lasted from 1901 to 1972.The party is officially committed to left-wing...
, and various independents and others. This new national ballot access coalition discussed the possibility of formally constituting a tax-exempt civic organization for purposes of ballot access litigation and education; at one point some participants in this group considered borrowing the COFOE name.