The Libertarian Party is making an all-out attempt to gain ballot access in races across the country. According to Richard Winger of Ballot Access News in Alabama Libertarians are Petitioning to be on November 2014 Ballot in Alabama’s Largest County“, there is still work to go in Alabama. The push continues nationwide:
The Alabama Libertarian Party is halfway finished with its petition to appear on the ballot in November 2014 in Jefferson County, the state’s most populous county. The petition is to get the party on the ballot; after it has been submitted, then the party can choose nominees by convention. Assuming the petition succeeds, the party will be able to run for state legislative seats that are entirely within the county, and any partisan county offices. Of course the party would rather complete the petition for statewide status, but that requires 44,829 valid signatures. The Jefferson County petition requires approximately 6,300 valid signatures.
Also, North Dakota’s Libertarian Party is in the middle of its application process. From North Dakota Libertarian Party Completes 2014 Petition for Party Status on Ballot Access News:
The North Dakota Libertarian Party has completed its petition for party status in the 2014 election, and plans to submit it on July 25. As far as is known, this is the first time any newly-qualifying political party has completed any petition for statewide status in any state for the 2014 election. No party, other than the Democratic and Republican Parties, has managed to poll enough votes to remain ballot-qualified in North Dakota since the Reform Party met the vote test in 1996. If the Libertarian Party gets 5% for either Secretary of State or Attorney General in 2014, then it will also be qualified in 2016.
The Libertarian Party national website has a list of states with the party’s ballot access status in the 2012 elections as well as a list of their vote totals. From their website FAQ:
What is a Libertarian?
Let’s start with Webster’s definition:
libertarian: A person who upholds the principles of individual liberty especially of thought and action.
Libertarian: a member of a political party advocating libertarian principles.
Libertarians believe in, and pursue, personal freedom while maintaining personal responsibility. The Libertarian Party itself serves a much larger pro-liberty community with the specific mission of electing Libertarians to public office.
Libertarians strongly oppose any government interfering in their personal, family and business decisions. Essentially, we believe all Americans should be free to live their lives and pursue their interests as they see fit as long as they do no harm to another.
In a nutshell, we are advocates for a smaller government, lower taxes and more freedom.
Is Libertarians Nationwide Push Liberal or Conservative?
Libertarians are neither. Unlike liberals or conservatives, Libertarians advocate a high degree of both personal and economic liberty. For example, Libertarians advocate freedom in economic matters, so we’re in favor of lowering taxes, slashing bureaucratic regulation of business, and charitable — rather than government — welfare. But Libertarians are also socially tolerant. We won’t demand laws or restrictions on other people who we may not agree because of personal actions or lifestyles.
Think of us as a group of people with a “live and let live” mentality and a balanced checkbook.
In a sense, Libertarians “borrow” from both sides to come up with a logical and consistent whole — but without the exceptions and broken promises of Republican and Democratic politicians. That’s why we call ourselves the Party of Principle.
Jim Hoffa says
Be forewarned. This was done to siphon the republican vote! The people behind this petition were obviously democrats looking for more handouts. Also the people behind this petition are not originally from Fargo. They are here to disrupt Fargo’s voting block. Trust me on that.
Adrian Tawfik says
That’s a fair argument. I try to highlight all 3rd parties including Greens and Socialists. I’m surprised this argument has never come up before but its an unfortunate aspect of the current system: a vote for a third party can often be at the expense of one of the major parties. The Ralph Nader effect