In a minority of states, there is no procedure for an unqualified party to circulate a petition to simply qualify the party. Instead, in these “bad” states, unqualified parties must list candidates on a petition, and get on the ballot that way.

This forces such unqualified parties to nominate “stand-in” presidential and vice-presidential candidates. Later, when these parties have their national conventions and choose their actual nominees, the stand-ins resign and the state allows the actual candidates to be substituted.

The Illinois Libertarian Party stand-ins are Debra Aaron for president, and Chris Bennett for vice-president. The Massachusetts Libertarian stand-ins are George Phillies for president and Chris Bennett for vice-president. The Pennsylvania Libertarian Party will choose its stand-ins at a state committee meeting on February 9.

The Pennsylvania Green Party stand-ins are John Zachmann for president and Sedinam Curry for vice-president. The Green Party is already ballot-qualified in Illinois and Massachusetts, so doesn’t need to worry about a petition.

The Constitution Party is using Jim Clymer as a stand-in for president, and Chuck Baldwin for vice-president, in various states.