LIbertarians certified for 2012 ballot

The Libertarian Party got the green light to appear on the ballot in Arkansas, the secretary of state's office announced Thursday.

Secretary of State Mark Martin certified as sufficient the party's petition, thus enabling candidates from the party to appear on ballots through the General Election in November 2012.

The Libertarian Party of Arkansas needed at least 10,000 signatures of registered Arkansas voters to be certified for the ballot.

The group submitted its petition May 18, and the secretary of state's office verified more than 12,000 valid signatures.

Party status shall be maintained as long as statutory requirements are met.

“This achievement is monumental for Arkansans who want more choice on their ballot,” said Rodger Paxton, Libertarian Party of Arkansas chairman. “We are honored to have spent the last year working towards ballot access to give Arkansans the chance to tell the government to back off.”

Libertarians advocate lower taxes, more personal freedom and less government intervention.

The party said it is now seeking candidates to run for office in 2012.

If the Libertarian presidential nominee earns 3 percent of the vote in the 2012 election, the party will automatically retain ballot access for 2014. If less than 3 percent is earned, the party will have to go through the signature process again.

In 2010, the Libertarian presidential candidate Bob Barr received 0.44 percent of the vote.

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