We were not prepared for 2010. We are not going to have any candidates under the Boston Tea Party banner on the ballot this year. This does not mean we cannot endorse candidates who agree with our platform but in terms of ballot access, we were finished before we even started for 2010.

This should not happen in 2012.

2012 is far too important of an election year for our party to be left off the ballot. This is why I recommend to our party's new national committee that they endorse and allow the creation of a “National Ballot Access Coordination Committee” to assist our state organizations in their efforts to get on the ballot.

This committee would help state parties by 1) providing them with important information and advice about ballot access laws in their state, 2) by assisting them in fund raising efforts and petition drives to actually obtain ballot access status. These are just my ideas. I'm open to changing some or adding others, I'd just like to get the ball rolling on this dicussion so that it never stops until we see BTP candidates on the ticket in a reasonable number of states!

*Best Shots for 2012 Ballot Access*
From the very helpful information at Richard Winger's Ballot Access News, I have found the following ten states to be our most reasonable opportunities to get on the ballot in 2012.

1)Florida- We had ballot access here in 2008, all that is required to get on the ballot is a fairly easy organizational requirement.

2)Colorado- Also on the ballot here in 2008, 1,000 signatures are required

3)Tennessee- Another state we had in 2008, the number of signatures for party ballot access is in court currently but it is 25 signatures for a single candidate

4)Louisiana- 1,000 signatures for a party, $500 fee for a candidate

5)Hawaii- 992 signatures for a party, 25 for a candidate

6)Delaware- 612 signatures for party ballot access

7)Mississippi- has an organizational requirement

8)Vermont- Organizational requirement

9)Ohio- Organizational requirement

10) Utah- 2,000 signatures for a party

This is just the very beginning of what sort of information and planning I'd like to see from a National Ballot Access Coordination Committee. The assistance they can provide will be most important in getting on the ballot in 2012.

I'd like any constructive input about this idea for a committee from any party members, especially Nat-Comm members. You can email me at eternaverse (at) yahoo (dot) com or comment below. ~Thank you, Raymond