Richard Lee Winger (born August 27, 1943) is an American political activist and analyst. He is the publisher and editor emeritus of Ballot Access News. He sits on the editorial board of the Election Law Journal. Winger publishes analysis, statistics and legal information and supports expanded access to the ballot for minor parties.[2][3][4][5][6]
Winger is widely regarded as an expert on ballot access and election law,[7][8][9][10] as well as on the topic of third-party politics in the United States.[11] Though not an attorney, Winger periodically testifies in court cases and legislative hearings and is a source for both the media and political organizers.[12][13][14][15] He has been published in The Wall Street Journal, Journal of Election Law, the Fordham Urban Law Review, American Review of Politics, California Journal and other publications.[16] He has appeared as a commentator on ballot access on NBC, ABC, CNN, and NPR.[16] Since 1985 Winger has published Ballot Access News,[17][18] a monthly newsletter covering developments in ballot access law and among American minor parties generally.[3][19]
On June 1, 2023, Winger announced his retirement from Ballot Access News. He continues to write on the website.[20]
In 1985 Winger co-founded, along with several minor party representatives, the Coalition on Free and Open Elections (COFOE).[4] 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.
Winger has made 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.[22]
^Rudin, Ken (November 1, 2006). "Who's On Third? Those 'Other' Candidates". NPR. Retrieved April 24, 2012. Richard Winger of Ballot Access News, who follows this stuff more thoroughly than anyone else, notes that every state holding partisan statewide races this year has minor-party or independent candidates except for Alabama, New Hampshire, New Mexico and Pennsylvania....
