1. Richard: Wasn’t it the somewhat historic ruling for 3rd parties in 1968 where the U.S. Supreme Court struck down Ohio’s hen draconian election law and allowed George Wallace to be on the ballot? What has happened since then?

2. As you say, in 1968 the US Supreme Court struck down the 15% petition for newly-qualifying parties, and the ban on independent presidential candidates. In 1970 a 3-judge US District Court struck down the new 7% petition for new parties and the new 4% petition for independent candidates. In 1971 the legislature set the party petition at 1% and the statewide independent candidate petition at 5,000. In 2006 the 6th circuit struck down the extremely early deadline for new parties. Last year the legislature finally fixed that, moving that deadline to July and lowering the vote test from 5% to 3% (and in 2014 only, 2%). Unfortunately the vote test still only applies to president and governor. That is why the Libertarians are so disadvantaged not being on for Governor this year. They are a qualified party right now but that will cease, unless the vote test is favorably changed.

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