By Chris Taylor
Nashville, TN – A federal judge finds Tennessee's requirements for third parties to get on the ballot are too burdensome and they violate the First Amendment. Third party candidates seeking to run statewide must currently submit a petition signed by 2.5% of the state's voters in the previous governor's election. That's about 45,500 signatures due at least four months before the election and must all come from people who are members of the party they want to see on the ballot. The Clarksville Leaf Chronicle reports U.S. District Judge William Haynes, Jr. ruled this week the petition requirement meets constitutional standards, but becomes too much when combined with the deadline and the party membership requirements.