Richard Winger
Encyclopedia
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
. He publishes analysis, statistics and legal information and supports more equitable laws allowing access to the ballot for minor parties.
Though not a lawyer, Winger testifies in court cases and legislative hearings and is a source for media and political organizers. He has been published in Journal of Election Law, the Fordham Urban Law Review, and other publications. Since 1985 he has published Ballot Access News, a monthly newsletter covering developments in ballot access law and among the minor parties generally.
as a Political Science
major in 1966, and attended Graduate School in Political Science at UCLA.
(COFOE). The group attempts to co-ordinate action and provide mutual support among the various minor parties for efforts to liberalize and reform ballot access laws. COFOE has been a modest operation that briefly had the backing of the ACLU
. It has sponsored various lawsuits and other initiatives through the years with mixed success.
COFOE has urged enforcement of the Helsinki Accords
in America, and removal of restrictions on minor parties. COFOE continues to meet annually.
.
Winger has made only one run for public office, a 1986 campaign for Secretary of State of California on the Libertarian ballot line. As he was running for the office charged with the administration of elections, the campaign was styled as being nonpartisan, intended to represent the interests of all minor parties. Winger finished fourth among five candidates with 1.5% of the vote.
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...
. He sits on the editorial board of the Election Law Journal
Election Law Journal
Election Law Journal is a peer-reviewed quarterly law journal published by Mary Ann Liebert, covering the legal issues related to elections and voting rights in the United States....
and has been accepted as an expert on election law in federal courts in nine states, including California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
. He publishes analysis, statistics and legal information and supports more equitable laws allowing access to the ballot for minor parties.
Though not a lawyer, Winger testifies in court cases and legislative hearings and is a source for media and political organizers. He has been published in Journal of Election Law, the Fordham Urban Law Review, and other publications. Since 1985 he has published Ballot Access News, a monthly newsletter covering developments in ballot access law and among the minor parties generally.
Background
A lifelong Californian, Richard Winger graduated from the University of California, BerkeleyUniversity of California, Berkeley
The University of California, Berkeley , is a teaching and research university established in 1868 and located in Berkeley, California, USA...
as a Political Science
Political science
Political Science is a social science discipline concerned with the study of the state, government and politics. Aristotle defined it as the study of the state. It deals extensively with the theory and practice of politics, and the analysis of political systems and political behavior...
major in 1966, and attended Graduate School in Political Science at UCLA.
Coalition on Free and Open Elections
In 1985 Winger helped found, along with several minor party representatives, the Coalition on Free and Open ElectionsCoalition on Free and Open Elections
The Coalition for Free and Open Elections 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...
(COFOE). The group attempts to co-ordinate action and provide mutual support among the various minor parties for efforts to liberalize and reform ballot access laws. COFOE has been a modest operation that briefly had the backing of the ACLU
American Civil Liberties Union
The American Civil Liberties Union is a U.S. non-profit organization whose stated mission is "to defend and preserve the individual rights and liberties guaranteed to every person in this country by the Constitution and laws of the United States." It works through litigation, legislation, and...
. It has sponsored various lawsuits and other initiatives through the years with mixed success.
COFOE has urged enforcement of the Helsinki Accords
Helsinki Accords
thumb|300px|[[Erich Honecker]] and [[Helmut Schmidt]] in Conference on Security and Co-operation in Europe held in Helsinki 1975....
in America, and removal of restrictions on minor parties. COFOE continues to meet annually.
Politics
Winger has been a loyal partisan of the Libertarian PartyLibertarian 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...
.
Winger has made only one run for public office, a 1986 campaign for Secretary of State of California on the Libertarian ballot line. As he was running for the office charged with the administration of elections, the campaign was styled as being nonpartisan, intended to represent the interests of all minor parties. Winger finished fourth among five candidates with 1.5% of the vote.