The Independent View: OH Libertarian Party Files Signatures To Regain State Recognition

The Libertarian Party of Ohio, filed Paperwork Tuesday to become the State’s First recognized Third Party in Four years, according to State and Party Officials.

Ohio Libertarians turned in more than 88,000 Petition signatures, including signatures from all 88 Counties, to Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose’s (R) Office to Regain their Status as a recognized Minor Party, State Libertarian Party Chair Dustin Nanna said.

If about 42,000 of those Signatures are deemed Valid by Elections Officials, Ohio Libertarians plan to run several Candidates in the November Election, Nanna said, though so far the Only Officially declared Candidate is Libertarian Presidential Nominee Chase Oliver.

“Anybody that’s looking for an option that is not Democrat or Republican should look into us,” Nanna said. “We hope to provide more choices and more voices to the voters.”

LaRose spokesman Ben Kindel, confirmed that the Libertarians submitted Petitions to the Secretary of State’s Office on Tuesday.

There are several Advantages to being a recognized Minor Party in Ohio, including that the Party Name appears on the Ballot next to its Candidates’ Names.

Recognized Minor Parties can also hold Primaries, and their Candidates need fewer Petition Signatures to get on the Ballot.

The Libertarian Party of Ohio, like other Libertarian Parties, has a Platform of Limited Government and Free-Market Principles.

The State Party was last on the Ohio Ballot in 2020, when Presidential Nominee Jo Jorgensen received about 1.1% of the Vote.

Before that, the Party Lost State recognition, after State Lawmakers passed New Ballot-Access Rules ahead of the 2014 General Eelection. Its Gubernatorial Candidate that year, Charlie Earl, was Disqualified from Running because of Invalid Petitions.

If Ohio Libertarians regain Minor-Party Status this year, they’ll keep it through the 2026 General Election.

However, if neither Oliver nor the to-be-determined Libertarian Nominee for Governor in 2026 dosn't get at least 3% of the Vote in Ohio, the Party will have to Refile Petitions to remain on the Ballot in 2028 and Beyond.

The only other Recognized Minor Party in Ohio in recent years, has been the Ohio Green Party, which Lost State Recognition, following the 2018 Governor’s Race.