Only three minor parties are now ballot-qualified for president in 2008 in more than 5 states. The Libertarian Party has 23 states, the Green Party has 18 states (plus D.C.), and the Constitution Party has 13 states.
Libertarian: Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Indiana, Kansas, Louisiana, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, South Carolina, Texas, Vermont, Wisconsin. The party will almost certainly have North Dakota in a few weeks, as soon as the state verifies its petition.
Green: California, Colorado, Delaware, Florida, Hawaii, Illinois, Louisiana, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Mississippi, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, South Carolina, Vermont, Wisconsin. Also District of Columbia. The party will almost certainly have Maryland in a few weeks, as soon as that state verifies the Green petition that will be submitted in a few weeks.
Constitution: California, Colorado, Delaware, Florida, Idaho, Michigan, Mississippi, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, Oregon, South Carolina, Utah. The party will almost certainly have North Dakota in a few weeks, since it has finished its petition and the state is likely to approve it. It is possible New Mexico also recognizes the party; the law is very unclear.
Four years ago (just after the November 2002 election), the totals for each party were Libertarian 26, Green 18 (plus D.C.), and Constitution 12. Comparing ballot status as of mid-November 2006 to the past is somewhat misleading, unless one compares it to the same point exactly 4 years ago. By this measure, which is the most objective measure, the Libertarian Party is a little bit worse off than it was four years ago; the Green Party and the Constitution Party are a little bit better off than they were.
Technically, the Constitution Party is not on the ballot in California just now, but it will become re-qualified in February 2007 when the state does its next registration tally.
