In March, Georgia will hold a special U.S. House election to fill the vacancy in the 10th district. The Libertarian Party has never run anyone for U.S. House in Georgia (except for write-in candidates), but the party is likely to run someone in this special election. Ballot access in Georgia special elections does not require a petition, but it does require a very high filing fee, of almost $4,900 (3% of the annual congressional salary). It is believed the Libertarian candidate will be Dr. James Sendelbach. Assuming he does run, he will be the first minor party candidate on the ballot for U.S. House in Georgia, with the party label next to his name on the ballot, since 1942. For more information about him, see here (although the information is somewhat out-of-date).
Why haven’t they ever run anyone for US House? Ballot-access issues or what?
In Georgia, the average congressional district requires, in round numbers, 30 THOUSAND certified signatures of registered voters. For the Board of Elections, it means 30 THOUSAND trips to the file cabinet to compare original signatures on voter registration cards with current sigantures on the petition. When the signatures don’t match the individual petitioner is deleted. Thsi is all a result of 1942 fear and bigotry in the Georgia Legislature. AND, Georgia does not have ballot initiative, so there is no way independents can force a referendum to allow other parties.
We are allowed ballot access on statewide offices and US Senate. All other partisan races require petitioning.
In Britain all you need is 10 signatures and £500 (approx $1000) to stand as a parliamentary candidate.