Thomas Jefferson and James Madison would be stunned to know that independent candidates for Congress in NYS require the permission of 3500 fellow citizens before others can even decide at all.
Set in the middle of summer, while everybody is gone or visiting from afar, candidates must enlist volunteers and paid folk alike. The idea is that anybody could run without these restrictions. Anybody could run.
In England it costs one hundred pounds to run for Parliament. Would our democracy be in that much danger if independent citizens who gave up their normal lives to serve you were included on the ballot ? One need only look at the relative ease for candidates in California's last gubernatorial election. Arnold was right at the top and the one from TV was not (Gary Coleman).
As a candidate it is not an opportunity to campaign. You must politely say thank you to someone who disagrees with you for fear of wasting time getting their signature or upsetting other willing signers. Anytime invested in discussion is lost or wasted. Presumably big money candidates can just pay to have all this done.
Offering a better choice than NOTA on Election Day is the goal. If half the voters don't bother it's usually due to lack of choice, not deliberation. If you come across an independent petitioner respect the fact that they are attempting change on their own dime. Almost four thousand personal transactions are required in the effort. Any business or government entity charged with such a responsibility would spend thousands upon thousand to achieve that goal. Just smile and nod when they won't sign. It's just democracy after all.