On December 31, an earlier Ohio Secretary of State ruling on ballot-qualified parties for the 2010 election was officially promulgated to county election boards in Ohio. The ruling says that the Constitution, Green, Libertarian and Socialist Parties are ballot-qualified in Ohio in 2010. Some time ago, the Secretary of State had posted this ruling on her web page, and no one made any negative comments, or comments as to why the tentative ruling should be reversed. The comment period is now over. The ruling is now final.

The four minor parties must nominate any 2010 candidates in their own primary. Candidates for statewide office in the primary of any of these parties need 500 signatures. Candidates for district and county office need 25 signatures. Signatures are due in February. The primary is in May.

The Ohio Constitution says all ballot-qualified parties must nominate by primary. Ohio and Oklahoma are the only states that have state constitutional provisions that require all parties to nominate by primary. Most states let small or new qualified parties nominate by convention. Allowing newly qualifying parties to nominate by convention allows for later petition deadlines for new parties, and also saves tax money.

Ohio still doesn’t have any valid election law to determine which parties are ballot-qualified. The 6th circuit invalidated the old laws in 2006 and the legislature has not replaced them. One bill, HB 260, would revise the laws, but it has not passed the State Senate. There is no bill pending that would revise the State Constitutional provision about mandatory primaries for all parties. Thanks to Kevin Knedler for the news about the final status of the Secretary of State’s ruling.


http://www.ballot-access.org/2009/12/31/tentative-ohio-ruling-in-now-final-ohio-has-6-political-parties-on-2010-ballot/



Something to keep in mind when you head to the ballot box.

I find that very interesting and definitely beneficial.

Let's hope it stays like that!

Awesome!

On behalf of all the BOE offices across the state please don't call them asking how you can become a libertarian, etc now. You can only become _____ by taking a _____ ballot on primary. If there is no _____ candidate for you to vote for, you're shit out of luck.

Rant/ I would wholeheartily suggest that everyone vote for one of the other parties. Not republican and not democrat.

Both are at the heart of the problems that are occuring in this country, but both sides have people so polarized that they are blind to what is going on.

Vote for one of the other parties make a real statement for REAL CHANGE. The only REAL CHANGE will be to oust the Republicans and Democrats and show them that neither party is doing the will of the American people./End rant

I can appreciate where you're coming from but that also goes hand in hand with don't buy nike cause some 9 year old made the shoes or don't buy gas on monday or don't shop at walmart.

The establishment will do just fine even with the protests.

The Equalizer wrote: On behalf of all the BOE offices across the state please don't call them asking how you can become a libertarian, etc now. You can only become _____ by taking a _____ ballot on primary. If there is no _____ candidate for you to vote for, you're shit out of luck.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but in Ohio, can't you also be registered as an official write-in candidate? So write-in votes for that specific candidate will still be counted.

BCSbunk wrote: Rant/ I would wholeheartily suggest that everyone vote for one of the other parties. Not republican and not democrat.

Both are at the heart of the problems that are occuring in this country, but both sides have people so polarized that they are blind to what is going on.

Vote for one of the other parties make a real statement for REAL CHANGE. The only REAL CHANGE will be to oust the Republicans and Democrats and show them that neither party is doing the will of the American people./End rant

On this we agree.


By the way, this success happened in large part because of Mr. Knedler and the Libertarian Party of Ohio. Congratulations to them, and I suggest everyone who will be voting for a third party this year thanks them.

http://lpo.org/

Anyone who wants to be counted as a write in must pre-register and do the paperwork with their local BOE office. The deadline to do so is march 3rd. The deadline to turn in petitions to get your name on the primary ballot is Feb 18th.