Wyoming has very difficult ballot access for both new parties and independent candidates. The only party, other than the Democratic and Republican Parties, that has appeared on the Wyoming ballot since 2001 has been the Libertarian Party. The Constitution Party is working on an all-volunteer petition drive to obtain the 4,988 valid signatures needed for party status in 2010, and now has 2,400 signatures.

Although 4,988 signatures may not sound difficult, Wyoming is the nation’s least populous state. The law requires 2% of the last U.S. House vote. If the Constitution Party succeeds in 2010, this will be the first new party petition to succeed in Wyoming for a mid-term year election since the Libertarians last did it in 1994 (Libertarians have not needed to petition since 1994, because the party always meets the vote test to remain on the ballot). Neither the Green Party nor the Constitution Party has ever been on the Wyoming ballot. Wyoming was one of seven states in which Ralph Nader failed to get on the ballot in 2000.