The Libertarian party needs 2 percent of the popular vote in the statewide Indiana Secretary of State race in November’s midterm elections to maintain its status as a party on the Indiana ballot for the next four years.
This is a special case, exclusive to the Libertarians, according to the treasurer for the Monroe County Libertarian Party, Bill Milroy.
For other independent parties to achieve ballot access, they have to get 2 percent of the registered voters within their district or ?political entity.
For the other independent parties vying for ballot access, these signatures are collected in a petition and then sent to their respective county clerks. The county clerk verifies that all of these signatures are from registered voters.
However, the Libertarian party had a special rule made for it years ago because of its status before the conception of the ballot ?access rules.
According to the Democratic Co-Director of the Indiana Election Division Trent Deckard, the Libertarians will maintain their current status as long as they stay between 2 and 10 ?percent of the Indiana Secretary of State popular vote.
It is uncertain what would happen if the Libertarians received less than 2 percent or more than 10 percent of the vote.
“Under both circumstances, there would probably be greater discussion either in the courts or in the legislature about what would happen next,” Deckard said.
Most times the Libertarian party ends up receiving about 4 or 5 percent of the popular vote in the Secretary of State race, easily surpassing the 2 percent minimum, according to Milroy.
Mike Frey, the Libertarian congressional candidate for representative of Indiana’s ninth district, is confident in his party’s abilities.
“If [people] have the courage to vote their convictions, we may actually shock people on Election Day,” Frey said.
According to Frey, the Libertarians offer a positive alternative to the two parties, which Frey believes people are tired of.
“The two big parties have done a real good job of demonizing the other party — so in other words, if you’re a Republican, it’s all the Democrats’ fault, and if you’re a Democrat, it’s all the Republicans’ fault,” Frey said.
Libertarians have a ?political policy based on wanting smaller government. According to Frey, the government is growing, and will keep growing, no matter which of the two major parties is holding control at the federal level.
He says both are driving the country off a “financial cliff.”
“One of them’s gonna get there in a moped and the other one’s gonna get us there in a Mercedes, but they’re both gonna get us off that cliff,” Frey said.
Frey believes that by 2024, 27 to 30 percent of the gross national product will be debt.
“Neither party really wants to address it because they’re only concerned about one thing: getting reelected,” Frey said.
Neither Frey nor Milroy is too worried about achieving the 2 percent of the popular vote necessary to maintain their party’s status.
Frey believes the 2 percent goal is “way low.”
“I really don’t hardly think there’s a question,” Frey said.
Milroy is also confident in the Libertarians’ ability to garner the votes.
“My general feeling is that there’s so much dissatisfaction now that it’s almost impossible not to get 2 or 3 percent, at least,” Milroy said.
