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50 state plans: INDIANA
This is the first of a series of threads that will break down ballot access for parties and candidates in each state. The goal of each state plan is for the party to be able to get candidates on a state-wide ballot, especially the BTP's presidential nominee in 2012.
Status
Indiana has a state affiliate with a web site. The committee includes President Douglass Gaking, Vice President Raymond Lady, and at large member Cole Stultz. The BTPIN endorsed Libertarian candidates Andy Horning for Governor and Rex Bell for State House in the 2008 election. The state has a minimum of five official members that I know of for sure. The BTPIN Facebook group has 15 members, including eight on Indiana networks.
Candidate ballot access requirements
In statewide races, candidates must collect signatures amounting to 2% of the vote in the last election for Secretary of State, currently 32,742 signatures. Multiple candidates may be listed on the same petition.
Party ballot access requirements
A party's candidate must receive 2% of the vote for Secretary of State in order for the party to gain statewide ballot access for all candidates.
Strategy
Right now: Amend the bylaws to allow the state party to have a bank account and raise funds for party promotion and ballot access campaigns.
Right now: Print materials that introduce the Boston Tea Party and the Indiana affiliate.
Next 3 months: Hold public meetings in Indianapolis, Bloomington, and Northwest Indiana to introduce the party and recruit members.
Next 6 months: Run candidates for office in 2009. Nominate a 2010 candidate for Secretary of State and any other statewide offices at the 2009 convention.
2010: Run a candidate for Secretary of State in 2010. This will require a petition drive for over 33,000 signatures. The petition may include candidates for U.S. Senator, State Treasurer, and State Auditor. Substitutions are not allowed, so the 2010 convention should be held very early in the year, perhaps in January to select a candidate for Sec. of State and start gathering signatures immediately.
If we get 2% of the vote for Sec. of State, we have statewide ballot access for the BTP. If we do not, we have the experience that will help us successfully get the presidential ticket and other statewide candidates on the ballot in 2012.
How you can help
We need more members. We also need to fill vacancies on the State Committee. We need a state secretary with good writing skills and one at large member for the state committee.
Join the BTPIN Yahoo! Group. Please contact the state chair, Douglass Gaking. Let him know what part of the state you live in and what skills you could offer to help the state affiliate.
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Comments
infinique:
Very soon with the North America Trade Union, we could add in Mexico and Canada.
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Eternaverse:
By the time the election comes in 2010 I’ll be 18 years old, old enough to run for some public offices. So if we needed a candidate, I could serve as one. I know I won’t be old enough to run for the house or the senate, but I don’t know about other offices.
inDglass:
I believe the only requirement to run for township board is to be a registered voter. You might have to live there a certain amount of time. I don't know about county offices.
planetaryjim:
Douglass, this page is an excellent idea, and I would like to see 50 more much the same (DC, Guam, Puerto Rico, Virgin Islands - as many more as needed).
I think you are missing a bet. There is no legal issue with starting the petition gathering at any time. You have a very *long* way to go to get upwards of 33,000 signatures.
No substitutions are allowed, and you need a candidate for state wide office. Secretary of state is a good choice. Why not have a convention this year, pick a candidate for that one office, and then you have all of 2009, most of 2010 to do the ballot petition work.
Obviously, there are other races in 2010, and you'll want to get people on the ballot for them, too. Maybe your convention can pick some, maybe you have a second convention 2009 to pick them.
But, getting started as soon as possible gives you many more weeks to recruit people and gather signatures. Eventually, I think we should raise the money and break down and pay for the petition gatherers to go to work. But there's no time like the present.
inDglass:
Douglass, this page is an excellent idea, and I would like to see 50 more much the same (DC, Guam, Puerto Rico, Virgin Islands - as many more as needed).
How did you know I was going to do that? Here is Alabama 48+ more to come!
Why not have a convention this year, pick a candidate for that one office, and then you have all of 2009, most of 2010 to do the ballot petition work.
Fantastic idea! I added it to the post above. We can select our 2010 Sec. of State candidate at our 2009 convention.
planetaryjim:
You and I should work together on Kansas, when you have some time.