Libertarians switch names to get Gary Johnson on Ohio ballot
COLUMBUS - Ohio's elections chief says he intends to let Libertarians sub in their party's presidential nominee, Gary Johnson, as they seek to get him on the fall ballot.
Party activists submitted paperwork last week on behalf of a different candidate — former gubernatorial candidate Charlie Earl. They said Earl was just a stand-in who would be replaced with Johnson.
Libertarians aren't recognized as a political party in Ohio, so activists sought to collect enough signatures from voters to get Johnson on the ballot by way of a process for independent candidates.
On Monday, Libertarians filed paperwork to swap Earl with Johnson.
Republican Secretary of State Jon Husted says Ohio law neither openly permits nor bars the switch, but he will allow it as long as elections boards can validate at least 5,000 signatures. That validation process is underway.