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Libertarian Group Fights To Get Party Label On Ohio Ballots

Group of Libertarians arrive at the Ohio Secretary of State’s office to deliver petitions to put Charlie Earl on the ballot as a presidential nominee. Earl would then be swapped out for Gary Johnson.
Jo Ingles
/
Ohio Public Radio
Group of Libertarians arrive at the Ohio Secretary of State’s office to deliver petitions to put Charlie Earl on the ballot as a presidential nominee. Earl would then be swapped out for Gary Johnson.";

A group of Libertarians are taking the state to court to get their party’s name back before Ohio voters. They're challenging a law that made it tougher to get that label on the ballot.

The committee that nominated Gary Johnson as the Libertarian Party’s presidential nominee filed suit in the Ohio Supreme Court. They say because Johnson received more than 3 three of the vote, Libertarians qualify as a political party in Ohio.

Committee member Scott Pettigrew says the party label is like a brand.

“It’s much like Pepsi, Coca-Cola. You know what you’re getting when you vote for a Libertarian candidate. You know instantly what they stand for,” said Pettigrew.

The Libertarian Party of Ohio has challenged before the Republican-backed state law that makes it tougher for minor political parties to get on the ballot.

Andy Chow is a general assignment state government reporter who focuses on environmental, energy, agriculture, and education-related issues. He started his journalism career as an associate producer with ABC 6/FOX 28 in Columbus before becoming a producer with WBNS 10TV.