Getting on the ballot in Texas and possibly other states will be a daunting task.
Houston, USA:
When it comes to electing a president in November, Americans are likely to look to incumbent Democrat Joe Biden and Republican Donald Trump as the two leading candidates. But they can also vote for “someone else?”
A 35-year-old school math teacher in the southern US state of Texas has officially changed his name to “Literally Anybody Else” and is collecting signatures to run as an independent candidate in the November presidential election.
“My name is literally anybody, and I’m running for president of the United States,” he recently told WFAA Network in Dallas.
Else (formerly known as Dustin Ebey) used this action to protest the U.S. electoral system in which only members of the Republican and Democratic parties can be elected president for the past 150 years.
“We don’t have an outlet to say ‘We’re done, we’re tired, we need something fresh,'” Els, a veteran, said in an interview. “For 300 million people, we can do better.”
Although independent candidates can appear in U.S. presidential elections, the political system heavily favors two-party contests.
“People vote for the lesser of two evils, not who they actually believe in or support,” Ells said. “People should have the choice to vote for someone who looks like them and represents them, not the lesser of two evils. I reject that.”
The candidate has been out campaigning wearing T-shirts that read “Literally Anybody Else 2024.” He needs about 113,000 signatures from supporters who did not vote in Texas’ presidential primary to be placed on the state’s ballot.
Barring any surprises, Biden and Trump will face off again in the Nov. 5 election, and polls suggest it will be a close race.
Getting on the ballot in Texas and possibly other states will be a daunting task.
“I’m not delusional. It’s going to be difficult to do, but not impossible,” Ayers said of his chances of finally getting on the ballot. “My hope is that Donald Trump, Joe Biden and then whoever else is down there.”
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
