2010 Party Ballot Access

Our party currently has affiliates in 12 states. I think we all would like for us to have affiliates in all 50 states by the 2010 election, and I think that it’s possible but only if we work towards it as a goal.

From what I see on the ballot access petitioning chart on Ballot Access News, there are 9 states that I would say have “easy” ballot access. My qualifications for easy is less than 1,000 signatures for whole state ballot access, a very small (like 25) candidate ballot access signature requirement or some type of party organizational requirement. Our party currently has affiliates in 4 of those 9 nine states. I think that we should focus on getting candidates to run in those states. We should also try to organize state parties in those 9 states that we don’t have affiliates.

I believe that if we run several active campaigns in those states along with write-in campaigns in states were ballot access is not possible that our party will experience a great deal of growth. This will help to ensure that our 2012 presidential candidate and other local candidates will have ballot access. Below is a listing of states with party affiliates and states that have considerably “easy” ballot access.

Alabama- Organized state party, 2010 party ballot access is 37,513 signatures which is far out of reach, write-in campaigns might be considered

California- Organized state party, 2010 party ballot access in 88,991 signatures which is very out unattainable for us right now, write-in campaigns might be considered

Colorado- Organized state party, ballot access is only 1,000 signatures which can be attained with relative ease, Colorado has a governor’s election in 2010 which presents an great chance for a BTP state-wide campaign

Delaware- No organized state party, state wide ballot access is only 310 signatures so it would be good if we could organize an affiliate there

Florida- Organized state party, state wide ballot access only requires for a slate of presidential elections to be provided, 2010 is when Florida has its next governors election providing another chance for a state-wide campaign

Hawaii- No organized state party, ballot access is only 663 for full party access or 25 per candidate, this is another place where it would b wise to consider building a state party, Hawaii also has a governor’s election in 2010

Indiana- Organized state party, ballot access is 32,742 per candidate and there is no full party access, this is far out of reach for our current resources, write-in campaigns might be best for Indiana

Kansas- Organized state party, 16,994 for party ballot access is not really within our current means, write-ins would also be the best option for Kansas

Louisiana- Organized state party, ballot access is 1,000 signatures for full party and $500 for a single candidate, this is one of the easier states

Michigan- Organized state party, one needs 38,024 signatures to gain full party ballot access in Michigan, this is another write-in state

Mississippi- No organized state party, there is only a organizational requirement for full party ballot access in Mississippi so it might be a good state to try to get on the ballot

Nevada- Organized state party, ballot access is 250 signatures for a full party which is pretty easy, Nevada has a governor’s election in 2010 also

Tennessee- No organized state party, while our presidential candidate was on the ballot last year and received over a 1,000 votes here we have no recognized state party in Tennessee, it would be good if we did though because ballot access is only 25 signatures per candidate and there’s a 2010 governors election, party ballot access is in court right now

New Mexico- Organized state party, party ballot access is 2,794 signatures which might be reachable if we try hard

North Carolina- Organized state party, party ballot access numbers are in court right now but single candidate access requires 69,734 which is way out of reach, write-in campaign are our best option here

Texas- Organized state party, its 43,991 signatures for party ballot access in Texas, once again out of reach for anything but write-ins

Vermont- No organized state party, while we don’t have a state party here but there is only an organizational requirement to get on the ballot so maybe we should try to organize one to run a 2010 candidate for governors

-Raymond Lady

I Won!!!

I want to thank everyone who participated in the recent election and, in general, all Boston Tea Party members. You participation and activism on behalf of this party is greatly valued by me.

I enter office and join the party’s national committee joyfully, humbled by the thought people would support me for this office and happy that I can work more for this party. My only regret in all this is that I had to come to office under a situation such as I did. The resignation of our party’s founder, Thomas Knapp, from the national committee and from our party is very regrettable. I hope that maybe, someday, Tom will rejoin our party.

I have many new ideas for the party I will share with everyone in the coming weeks. I have already started talking with committee member Darryl Perry about getting an online party newsletter started. Hopefully something will come out of the project.

I hope that, in my own small way, I will bring new insight to the committee and help it function better so that it can work more proficiently to reduce to size of government. We must never forget that that is our goal as an organization. That the only reason the Boston Tea Party is here is not to work for any special interest, other than the interest of liberty.

Once again, thank you all and God bless. I look forward to working with all of you soon.

In Liberty,
Raymond Lady