The Ohio Libertarian Party’s petition to get back on the ballot now has more than 70,000 signatures. The requirement is 54,965. The party expects to finish by December 31, 2017. This is easily the most difficult petition drive being undertaken by any political party during 2017. The Ohio requirement is the second highest number required by any state for new party ballot status for 2018 (when the easier method to get a new party, with the party label, is compared state-by-state).

Only California has a higher number. The California number, approximately 60,000, requires registered members, not petition signatures. The California number can’t be known exactly yet, because the formula is .33% of the total number of registered voters as of the deadline, which is in the future.