By John Lyon
Arkansas News Bureau

LITTLE ROCK — The Libertarian Party of Arkansas today submitted more than 16,000 signatures to the secretary of state’s office in a bid to qualify for next year’s ballot.

The party said it turned in 16,144 signatures. If the secretary of state’s office can verify that at least 10,000 of the signatures are from registered Arkansas voters, the Libertarian Party will become a recognized party with full ballot access in the state.

Martha Adcock of the secretary of state’s office talks with state Libertarian Party Chairman Rodger Paxton (both standing) as employees of the secretary of state’s office process signatures the party submitted Wednesday to gain ballot access. (Photo courtesy of the Arkansas secretary of state’s office)

Secretary of State Mark Martin has 30 days to verify the signatures.

Arkansas Libertarian Party spokeswoman Jessica Paxton of Marion said the party expects to field state candidates across the ballot, from congressional races down to city races. It will select candidates at a state convention in April.

The party also expects to run a presidential candidate. Previously, the only Libertarians who have appeared on Arkansas’ ballot are its presidential candidates, who can qualify by collecting 1,000 signatures.

Libertarian Bob Barr received 0.44 percent of Arkansas’ vote in the 2008 presidential race.

Paxton said interest in the Libertarian Party has grown in Arkansas over the past two years.

“People are sick and tired,” she said. “They see that we elect one party, we get fed up so we elect the other, and they see that that hasn’t changed anything.”

According to the state party’s website, Libertarians “advocate freedom in economic matters, so we’re in favor of lowering taxes, slashing bureaucratic regulation of business, and charitable — rather than government — welfare. But Libertarians are also socially tolerant. We won’t demand laws or restrictions on other people who we may not agree (with) because of personal actions or lifestyles.”

The party can retain its status as a recognized party if it wins 3 percent of the presidential vote in Arkansas in November 2012. Otherwise, it will have to collect signatures all over again for the next election cycle.

The Green Party of Arkansas is suing the state over the 3 percent requirement, which it says is overly burdensome. The Libertarian Party has not joined that lawsuit, but Paxton said the party supports it.

“We’re proud of them for standing up for Arkansans and saying, ‘Hey, Arkansans want choice, and you shouldn’t be able to take that away from them,’” she said.