Libertarian candidate for 9th District House battles state of Georgia over ballot access

HIAWASSEE, Ga. – The Libertarian Party of Georgia has selected their nominees for the 2018 election amidst a simmering lawsuit between party members and the state of Georgia over the right to third-party ballot access, claiming current restrictions are unconstitutional. Georgia law, the most stringent in the nation, requires 5 percent of registered voters to sign petitions, amounting to approximately 20,000 signatures needed in order to field a third-party candidate in any of Georgia’s 14 congressional districts. Petitions are limited to 180 days of circulation between the time the first and final signature is collected.

The Libertarian Party of Georgia was established in 1972, and it is recognized as a valid political body. While Republican and Democratic nominees are automatically listed on the ballot, Libertarians say the archaic election regulations are not only biased towards candidates, but more importantly, restrict the freedom of choice from the citizens they wish to serve. A third-party candidate in Georgia has never collected enough signatures to appear on the ballot for the U.S. House since the state passed the qualification law in 1943.

The ballot access lawsuit was filed in federal court on Nov. 21, 2017.

Aaron Gilmer, a plaintiff in the lawsuit, secured the 9th District congressional nomination for the Libertarian Party on Saturday, Feb. 3, 2018.  The district consists of Towns, Union, Fannin, Gilmer, Lumpkin, White, Dawson, Banks, Rabun, Hart, Madison, Jackson, Habersham, and Franklin counties. Portions of Pickens, Forsyth, Elbert and Clarke counties are also included in the 9th District.

“This is bad for democracy and unfair to Georgians. As Libertarians, we believe competition breeds innovation and better results.”

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