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Libertarians Submit Placeholder for Ohio Presidential Ballot
By: Associated Press
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COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) – Libertarians trying to get a presidential candidate on Ohio’s ballot have submitted signatures for someone other than their party’s nominee, Gary Johnson.
The party listed Charlie Earl – a failed 2014 candidate for Ohio governor- on paperwork they say is aimed at getting Johnson on the ballot.
Party spokesman Aaron Keith Harris says Earl is a placeholder and once the signatures are certified Libertarians will swap in Johnson and his running mate.
The secretary of state’s office says they will review the situation.
Libertarians are not recognized as a minor political party in Ohio, so activists sought to collect at least 5,000 valid signatures from voters to get their party’s candidate on the state’s ballot as an independent.
The party said it submitted more than 12,000 signatures.