burdick takushi argued march decided june petitioner registered honolulu voter filed suit respondent state officials claiming hawaii prohibition voting violated rights expression association first fourteenth amendments district ultimately granted motion summary judgment injunctive relief appeals reversed holding prohibition taken part state comprehensive election scheme impermissibly burden right vote held hawaii prohibition voting unreasonably infringe upon citizens rights first fourteenth amendments pp petitioner assumes erroneously law imposes burden right vote must subject strict scrutiny cases applied flexible standard considering state election law challenge must weigh character magnitude asserted injury first fourteenth amendment rights plaintiff seeks vindicate precise interests put forward state justification burden imposed rule taking consideration extent interests make necessary burden plaintiff rights anderson celebrezze standard regulation must narrowly drawn advance state interest compelling importance subjects voters rights severe restrictions norman reed imposes reasonable nondiscriminatory restrictions upon rights state important regulatory interests generally sufficient justify restrictions anderson supra pp hawaii vote prohibition imposes limited burden upon voters rights associate politically vote candidates choice placed ballot state election laws provide easy access primary ballot date filing nominating petitions two months primary burden voters rights borne fail identify candidate choice shortly primary interest making late rather early decision entitled little weight cf storer brown pp hawaii asserted interests avoiding possibility unrestrained factionalism general election guarding party raiding primaries legitimate sufficient outweigh limited burden voting ban imposes upon voters pp indeed foregoing analysis leads conclusion state ballot access laws pass constitutional muster imposing reasonable burdens first fourteenth amendment rights voting prohibition presumptively valid since burden right vote candidate one choice light normally counterbalanced state interests supporting ballot access scheme pp white delivered opinion rehnquist scalia souter thomas joined kennedy filed dissenting opinion blackmun stevens joined post arthur eisenberg argued cause petitioner briefs steven shapiro john powell mary blaine johnston carl varady paul kahn lawrence sager burt neuborne alan burdick pro se steven michaels deputy attorney general hawaii argued cause respondents brief warren price iii attorney general girard lau deputy attorney general briefs amici curiae urging reversal filed common stanley levin hawaii libertarian party arlo hale smith socialist workers party edward copeland eric lieberman brief amici curiae urging affirmance filed state arizona et al frankie sue del papa attorney general nevada kateri cavin deputy attorney general attorneys general respective jurisdictions follows grant woods arizona robert butterworth florida richard ieyoub louisiana lacy thornburg north carolina susan brimer loving oklahoma mark barnett south dakota paul van dam utah joseph meyer wyoming robert naraja commonwealth northern mariana islands james linger rfiled brief andre marrou et al amici curiae justice white delivered opinion issue case whether hawaii prohibition voting unreasonably infringes upon citizens rights first fourteenth amendments petitioner contends constitution requires hawaii provide casting tabulation publication votes appeals ninth circuit disagreed holding prohibition taken part state comprehensive election scheme impermissibly burden right vote affirm petitioner registered voter city county honolulu one candidate filed nominating papers run seat representing petitioner district hawaii house representatives petitioner wrote state officials inquiring hawaii voting policy received copy opinion letter issued hawaii attorney general office stating state election law made provision voting app petitioner filed lawsuit claiming wished vote primary general elections person filed nominating papers wished vote future elections persons whose names might appear ballot district district hawaii concluded ban voting violated petitioner first amendment right expression association entered preliminary injunction ordering respondents provide casting tallying votes november general election app pet cert district denied stay pending appeal app appeals entered stay vacated judgment district reasoning consideration federal constitutional question raised petitioner premature neither plain language hawaii statutes definitive judicial interpretation statutes establishes hawaii legislature enacted ban voting burdick takushi accordingly appeals ordered district abstain see railroad texas pullman state courts determined whether hawaii election laws permitted voting remand district certified following three questions hawaii constitution state hawaii require hawaii election officials permit casting votes require hawaii election officials count publish votes hawaii election laws require hawaii election officials permit casting votes require hawaii election officials count publish votes hawaii election laws permit require hawaii election officials allow voters cast votes count publish votes app pet cert hawaii high answered three questions holding hawaii election laws barred voting measures consistent state constitution burdick takushi haw district granted petitioner renewed motion summary judgment injunctive relief entered stay pending appeal haw although prohibition voting places restrictions petitioner rights expression association burden justified light ease access hawaii ballots alternatives available petitioner expressing political beliefs state broad powers regulate elections specific interests advanced state ii petitioner proceeds erroneous assumption law imposes burden upon right vote must subject strict scrutiny cases hold beyond cavil voting fundamental significance constitutional structure illinois bd elections socialist workers party follow however right vote manner right associate political purposes ballot absolute munro socialist workers party constitution provides may prescribe times places manner holding elections senators representatives art cl therefore recognized retain power regulate elections sugarman dougall tashjian republican party connecticut common sense well constitutional law compels conclusion government must play active role structuring elections practical matter must substantial regulation elections fair honest sort order rather chaos accompany democratic processes storer brown election laws invariably impose burden upon individual voters provision code whether governs registration qualifications voters selection eligibility candidates voting process inevitably affects least degree individual right vote right associate others political ends anderson celebrezze consequently subject every voting regulation strict scrutiny require regulation narrowly tailored advance compelling state interest petitioner suggests tie hands seeking assure elections operated equitably efficiently see brief petitioner accordingly mere fact state system creates barriers tending limit field candidates voters might choose compel close scrutiny bullock carter anderson supra mcdonald board election chicago instead full agreed anderson supra rehnquist dissenting flexible standard applies considering challenge state election law must weigh character magnitude asserted injury rights protected first fourteenth amendments plaintiff seeks vindicate precise interests put forward state justifications burden imposed rule taking consideration extent interests make necessary burden plaintiff rights tashjian supra standard rigorousness inquiry propriety state election law depends upon extent challenged regulation burdens first fourteenth amendment rights thus recognized rights subjected severe restrictions regulation must narrowly drawn advance state interest compelling importance norman reed state election law provision imposes reasonable nondiscriminatory restrictions upon first fourteenth amendment rights voters state important regulatory interests generally sufficient justify restrictions anderson supra see also apply standard considering petitioner challenge hawaii ban ballots doubt hawaii election laws like election regulations impact right vote anderson supra hardly said laws issue unconstitutionally limit access ballot party independent candidates unreasonably interfere right voters associate candidates choice placed ballot indeed petitioner understandably challenge manner state regulates candidate access ballot obtain position november general election ballot candidate must participate hawaii open primary registered voters may choose party primary vote tashjian supra see state provides three mechanisms voter candidate choice may appear primary ballot first party petition may filed days primary group persons obtain signatures one percent state registered voters supp days primary candidates must file nominating papers certifying among things qualify office sought members party seek represent general election nominating papers must contain signatures specified number registered voters candidates statewide federal office state legislative county races supp winner party advances general election thus party forms around candidacy single individual one else runs party ticket individual elected primary win place november general election ballot second method candidates may appear hawaii primary ballot established party route established parties qualified petition three consecutive elections received specified percentage vote preceding election may avoid filing party petitions years haw democratic republican libertarian parties currently meet hawaii criteria established parties like new party candidates established party contenders required file nominating papers days primary supp third mechanism candidate may appear ballot designated nonpartisan ballot nonpartisans may placed nonpartisan primary ballot simply filing nominating papers containing signatures depending upon office sought days primary advance general election nonpartisan must receive percent primary vote number votes sufficient nominate partisan candidate whichever number lower hustace doi haw years preceding filing action nonpartisans entered primary obtained slots november ballot brief respondent although hawaii makes provision voting primary general elections system outlined provides easy access ballot cutoff date filing nominating petitions two months primary consequently burden voters freedom choice association borne fail identify candidate choice days primary storer brown gave little weight interest candidate supporters may making late rather early decision seek independent ballot status cf rosario rockefeller think reasoning applies therefore conclude burden imposed hawaii vote prohibition limited one conclude otherwise might sacrifice political stability system state profound consequences entire citizenry merely interest particular candidates supporters instantaneous access ballot storer supra characterized voting rights rather ballot access case petitioner submits prohibition deprives opportunity cast meaningful ballot conditions electoral participation upon waiver first amendment right remain free espousing positions support discriminates based content message seeks convey vote brief petitioner bottom claims entitled cast hawaii required count protest vote donald duck tr oral arg impediment asserted right unconstitutional petitioner argument based two flawed premises first bullock carter minimized extent voting rights cases distinguishable ballot access cases stating rights voters rights candidates lend neat separation second function election process winnow finally reject chosen candidates storer provide means giving vent political goals pique personal quarrel ibid attributing elections generalized expressive function undermine ability operate elections fairly efficiently accordingly repeatedly upheld reasonable politically neutral regulations effect channeling expressive activity polls see munro petitioner offers persuasive reason depart precedents reasonable regulation elections require voters espouse positions support require act timely fashion wish express views voting booth nothing flat ban forms ballots appropriate standard evaluating claim state law burdens right vote set forth anderson applying standard conclude light adequate ballot access afforded hawaii election code state ban voting imposes limited burden voters rights make free choices associate politically vote turn next interests asserted hawaii justify burden imposed prohibition voting already concluded burden slight state need establish compelling interest tip constitutional scales direction state interests outweigh petitioner limited interest waiting eleventh hour choose preferred candidate hawaii interest avoid ing possibility unrestrained factionalism general election munro supra provides adequate justification ban voting november primary election integral part entire election process storer supra state within rights reserve general election ballot major struggles forum continuing intraparty feuds ibid munro supra prohibition voting legitimate means averting divisive candidacies hawaii promotes election process winnowing candidates see storer supra permitting unopposed victors certain primaries designated officeholders see focuses attention voters upon contested races general election possible absent voting ban hawaii also asserts ban voting primary stage necessary guard party raiding tashjian party raiding generally defined organized switching blocs voters one party another order manipulate outcome party primary election anderson petitioner suggests hawaii conducts open primary cognizable interest disagree voters may vote ticket hawaii primary state requires party candidates member party prohibits candidates filing nomination papers party candidate nonpartisan candidate hawaii system easily circumvented party primary election mounting campaign person filed time never intended run election also frustrated general election permitting votes loser party primary independent failed get sufficient votes make general election ballot state legitimate interest preventing sorts maneuvers voting ban reasonable way accomplishing goal think legitimate interests asserted state sufficient outweigh limited burden voting ban imposes upon hawaii voters iii indeed foregoing leads us conclude state ballot access laws pass constitutional muster imposing reasonable burdens first fourteenth amendment rights hawaii election laws prohibition voting presumptively valid since burden right vote candidate one choice light normally counterbalanced state interests supporting ballot access scheme situations objection specific ban voting amounts nothing insistence state record count publish individual protests election system choices presented ballot efforts actively participate system means available however voice generalized dissension electoral process discern adequate basis requiring state provide finance place ballot recording protests constitutionally valid election laws right precious free country voice election make laws good citizens must live wesberry sanders right vote right participate electoral process necessarily structured maintain integrity democratic system anderson supra storer think hawaii prohibition voting considered part electoral scheme provides constitutionally sufficient ballot access impose unconstitutional burden upon first fourteenth amendment rights state voters accordingly judgment appeals affirmed footnotes ninth circuit panel issued opinion march see burdick takushi june appeals denied petitioner petition rehearing suggestion rehearing en banc panel withdrew original opinion issued version appears previously upheld party candidate petition signature requirements burdensome burdensome hawaii requirement see norman reed american party texas white jenness forson jenness rejected equal protection challenge system provided alternative means ballot access members established political parties candidates concluding system constitutional operate freeze political status quo anderson celebrezze concluded ohio early filing deadline presidential candidates imposed unconstitutional burden voters freedom choice freedom association anderson distinguishable ohio election scheme explained provided means candidate appear ballot march cutoff date hawaii fills void nonpartisan primary ballot mechanism storer upheld california ballot access law refused recognize independent candidates year disaffiliated political party dissent complains primary voters required opt specific partisan nonpartisan ballot foreclosed voting races candidate appears chosen ballot races dissatisfied available choices post generally true primaries voters required select ticket rather choose universe candidates running party slates indeed upheld much onerous requirement voters interested participating primary election enroll member political party prior preceding general election rosario rockefeller cf american party texas supra state may determine essential integrity nominating petition process confine voters supporting one party candidates course nominating process dissent correct suggesting requiring primary voters select specific ballot impermissibly burdened right vote clear decisions availability option provide adequate remedy anderson supra lubin panish indeed voters well candidates participated ballot access cases anderson state also supports ban voting means enforcing nominating requirements combating fraud fostering informed educated expressions popular anderson although dissent purports agree standard apply determining whether right vote restricted post implies analyzing ban minimal level scrutiny post dissent actually employs strict scrutiny evident invocation quite rigid narrow tailoring requirements instance dissent argues state adopt less drastic means preventing candidacies state screen ineligible candidates disqualification rather voting ban post seems us limiting choice candidates complied state election law requirements prototypical example regulation affects right vote eminently reasonable anderson supra dissent suggestion voters entitled cast ballots unqualified candidates appears driven assumption election system imposes restraint voter choice unconstitutional simply wrong see supra course way suggest state free provide voting many opinion read discourage provisions justice kennedy justice blackmun justice stevens join dissenting question us whether hawaii enact total ban voting majority holds finding hawaii ballot access rules impose serious limitations right vote indeed majority effect adopts presumption prohibitions voting permissible state ballot access laws meet constitutional standards dissent disagree presumption well majority specific conclusion hawaii ban voting constitutional record demonstrates significant burden hawaii ban imposes right voters petitioner vote candidates choice election triggered lawsuit petitioner wish vote one candidate ran state representative district write name candidate preferred way cast meaningful vote petitioner dilemma recurring frequent phenomenon hawaii state ballot access rules circumstance one party democratic party predominant critical understand petitioner case isolated example restriction free choice candidates ballot access rules cites mitigating injury fact compound democratic candidates often run unopposed especially state legislative races general election percent elections state legislative offices involved single candidate races reply brief petitioner comparable figures percent percent ibid large numbers voters cast blank ballots uncontested races leave ballots blank rather vote single candidate listed percent voters voted races cast votes uncontested state senate races brief common amicus curiae percent voters cast votes uncontested state house races even contested races percent voters cast blank ballots given many hawaii voters dissatisfied choices available hard avoid conclusion least voters cast votes candidates given option ban thus prevents voters participating hawaii elections meaningful manner evidence also belies majority suggestion hawaii voters presented adequate electoral choices hawaii makes easy get official ballot contrary hawaii ballot access laws taken whole impose significant impediment independent candidacies majority suggests easy new parties petition place primary ballot must obtain signatures one percent state registered voters ignores difficulty presented early deadline gathering signatures days months primary election meeting deadline requires considerable organization early stage election condition difficult many small parties meet see brief socialist workers party amicus curie party petition unsuccessful completed time candidate wish affiliated party may run independent requirements get nonpartisan ballot onerous signatures days primary nonpartisan ballot presents voters difficult choice primary voter choose single ballot offices hence voter wishes vote independent candidate one office must forgo opportunity vote established party primary every race since might independent candidates offices practical terms voter wants vote one independent candidate forfeits right participate selection candidates offices rule ballot access rule finds curative fact presents substantial disincentive voters select nonpartisan ballot voter wishes vote candidate one particular office faces similar disincentive select third party ballot dominance democratic party magnifies disincentive primary election dispositive many races effect hawaii voter wishes vote independent candidate must choose participating dispositive election many offices dilemma imposes substantial burden voter choice explains also independent candidates secure enough primary votes advance general election majority notes eight independent candidates succeeded advancing general election past years less one independent candidate per year average fact run general election hawaii majority approval hawaii ban ironic time new democracies foreign countries strive emerge era sham elections name ruling party candidate one ballot hawaii impose severe restriction right vote imposes restriction haunting similarity tendency exact severe penalties one anything vote dominant party ballot aside constraints related ballot access restrictions ban limits voter choice another way voting serve important safety mechanism instances issue arises new information disclosed candidate late race situations voters may become disenchanted available candidates late candidates come forward qualify ballot prohibition voting imposes significant burden voters forcing either vote candidate longer support cast blank ballot voting provides way quandary allowing voters switch support candidates official ballot even mechanisms address problem election developments unsuitable candidates win election recalled allowing voting way preserve voters right cast meaningful vote general election background turn legal principles control case outset agree first premise majority legal analysis right stake right cast meaningful vote candidate one choice petitioner right freedom expression implicated argument first amendment confers upon citizens right cast protest vote government officials count report vote persuasive majority points purpose casting counting recording votes elect public officials serve general forum political expression agree well careful statement gives test applied case determine right vote constricted phrases must weigh character magnitude asserted injury rights protected first fourteenth amendments plaintiff seeks vindicate precise interests put forward state justifications burden imposed rule taking consideration extent interests make necessary burden plaintiff rights ante quoting tashjian republican party connecticut submit conclusion must ban deprives voters substantial voice selecting candidates entire range offices issue particular election starting point useful remember late ballots cast country ballots system ballots also known australian ballot system introduced country see fredman australian ballot story american reform ix prior voters prepared ballots used preprinted tickets offered political parties since restrictions whose name appear ballot individuals always vote candidates choice ballots considered progressive reform reduce fraudulent election practices ballots offered political parties often distinctive colors party determine whether one sold vote used right ballot fredman supra disadvantage new ballot system operate constrict voter choice recognition problem several early state courts recognized right cast votes see sanner patton construction contended appellee prohibiting voting correct one voter deprived constitutional right suffrage deprived right exercising choice right taken away nothing left worthy name right suffrage boasted free ballot becomes delusion patterson hanley cal every form ballot experience voter allowed seems agreed must allowed privilege casting vote person office writing name proper place oughton black unless provision enable voter satisfied vote ticket ballot names appearing make entire ticket choice election equal able express individual way courts recognized voters vote candidate choice without option effect ban conjunction restrictions deprive voter opportunity cast meaningful ballot consequence prohibitions impose significant burden voting rights see reynolds sims right vote freely candidate one choice essence democratic society restrictions right strike heart representative government affected bans infringement right vote candidate choice total fact candidates longshots often makes difference right vote one preferred candidate exists regardless likelihood candidate successful socialist labor party rhodes ohio ballot permits voter effectively exercise individual constitutionally protected franchise use ballots dependent candidate chance success aff part modified part sub nom williams rhodes based foregoing reasoning accept majority presumption bans permissible state ballot access laws otherwise constitutional presumption circular fails take account must consider availability voting lack thereof factor determining whether state ballot access laws considered whole constitutional jenness fortson storer brown effect presumption moreover excuse state justify defend ban majority view ban constitutional implications state ballot access scheme defective voting remedy defect means state needs defend ballot access laws restriction majority analysis ignores inevitable significant burden ban imposes upon individual voters preventing exercising right vote meaningful manner liberality state ballot access laws one determinant extent burden imposed ban though automatic excuse forbidding voting view state bans voting elections must justify burden individual voters putting forth precise interests served ban prohibition presumed valid absence proffered justification state standard derives anderson celebrezze means least hawaii ban considered conjunction state ballot access laws imposes significant burden voters petitioner must put forward state interests justify burden assess think necessary specify level scrutiny applied view state failed justify ban level scrutiny interests proffered state puzzling advanced significant degree prohibition consider interests turn interest best potential acceptance view preserving integrity party primaries preventing candidacies general election majority points acknowledged state interest avoiding party factionalism ban serve interest degree eliminating one mechanism used candidates agree interest provides adequate justification ban ante initial matter interest best justify prohibition general elections justify hawaii complete ban primary general election respect general elections ban overinclusive means addressing problem bars legitimate candidacies well undesirable candidacies state desires prevent candidacies implement narrow provision aimed particular problem second interest advanced state enforcing policy permitting unopposed victors certain primaries designated officeholders without go general election majority possible absent voting ban ante makes sense petitioner counsel acknowledged oral argument degree hawaii abolished general elections circumstances occasion cast ballot tr oral arg anything argument cuts way provision makes important allow voting primary elections primaries often dispositive hawaii justifies ban primary elections way prevent party raiding petitioner argues alleged interest suspect state created party raiding problem first place allowing open primaries agree ironic state raise concern risk party raiding feature open primary system state chosen majority suggests voting presents particular risk circumventing primary system state law requires candidates party primaries members party majority argument persuasive voters mount campaign candidate meet requirements candidate disqualified election state also cites interest promoting informed selection candidates interest claims advanced flushing candidates open reasonable time election brief respondents think state backwards fact candidates often conduct visible campaigns seems make likely voters go trouble seeking candidates writing names well informed state interest may well cut way state cites interests combating fraud enforcing nomination requirements state explain voting presents risk fraud today polling places state interest making sure ineligible candidates elected petitioner counsel pointed argument approximately require candidates file declaration candidacy verify eligible hold office days election tr oral arg sum state proffered justifications prohibition sufficient standard justify significant impairment constitutional rights voters petitioner grant relief