The Libertarian Party of Georgia has received some inquiries as to why voters could not get a Libertarian ballot for the primary election held on July 15, 2008. Here’s the reason:
Taxpayer money pays for primary elections, where political parties select their candidates for the general election. Libertarians believe taxpayers should not be forced to subsidize this — why should you pay to help a political party you might not support? Libertarians agree with Thomas Jefferson, who said “To compel a man to furnish contributions of money for the propagation of opinions which he disbelieves and abhors, is sinful and tyrannical.” Therefore, Libertarians instead hold a nominating convention where party members convene to select our candidates, at no expense to taxpayers. The only people who pay for Libertarians to pick candidates are members of the Libertarian Party of Georgia.
In addition, Georgia law considers the Libertarian Party of Georgia a politicalbody, not a political party. This is a side-effect of the state’s brutal ballot access laws that limit participation by all independents. As a result, Georgia does not permit the Libertarians to participate in primary elections.
The day will come when the Libertarian Party of Georgia’s growing popularity will meet the state’s arbitrary requirements and we will graduate to the status of political party. We still will choose not to participate in primary elections.
