By Chris Hillin The Oklahoma Daily If the United States’ two major parties are big tents, drawing all possible voters under their expansive roofs, then third party options are lean-to shacks scattered across the political landscape. In Oklahoma, independent political voices face fierce crowding on the political stage, and many independents say Oklahoma’s ballot access laws make it difficult to steal the spotlight David Splinter, vice chairman of the Oklahoma City Libertarians, said to be an independent means standing in opposition to the two major political parties and being an alternative to the same policies and thoughts voters hear every election. Many independent candidates get started because they feel the need for another perspective on politics. J.M. Branum, Green Party candidate for Oklahoma State House District 99 in Oklahoma City, said he announced his candidacy when he learned there would be no opposition to the person running in his district. “I just wanted to get my thoughts on the issues out there,” Branum said. “There just needed to be another voice influencing the other candidates’ policies.” Nationwide, more than 30 percent of the roughly 6,100 legislative seats on the ballot already have been decided because the candidates are running unopposed, according to The Associated Press. Posted at 11/01/2006 09:01:00 AM