The New York Independence Party has nominated Gary Johnson for President. This is a surprise, because the leaders of the Independence Party have in the past been very friendly with Donald Trump. The Independence Party sent out a press release on September 9 announcing its choice.

This means that Johnson will be on the ballot twice in New York state. His line on the Independence Party will be sixth on the ballot. His name on the Libertarian line will be ninth on the ballot.

When the Federal Election Commission looks at the election returns to see if Gary Johnson got 5% of the vote, which would make his campaign eligible for general election funding in December 2016, the FEC will count his votes on the Independence line as well as on the Libertarian line.

Other parties in New York that have made presidential nominations so far are the Conservative Party, which has nominated Donald Trump; and the Working Families Party, which has nominated Hillary Clinton. The Reform Party is expected to nominate Donald Trump, but it has not yet sent in its paperwork. Also the final paperwork for the Women’s Equality Party is not in yet. Two preliminary filings for the Women’s Equality Party are in conflict. One nominates Lynn Kahn and the other nominates Hillary Clinton.