ALBANY, NY (Erie News Now)--AS THE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION GETS CLOSER, GREEN PARTY CANDIDATE JILL STEIN IS TRYING TO GET HERSELF ON THE BALLOT.  

Tuesday, oN THE FIRST DATE TO SIGN PETITIONS FOR alternative POLITICAL PARTY CANDIDATES RUNNING FOR PRESIDENT, STEIN LAUNCHES HER BALLOT ACCESS drive IN THE NEW YORK STATE CAPITOL.  

“In the current environment where the two major party candidates are historically unpopular and widely rejected, New Yorkers like the rest of Americans are hungry for other choices,” said Stein. 

Iindependent AND THIRD-PARTY CANDIDATES IN THE STATE OF NEW YORK MUST COLLECT 45,000 PETITION signatures OF QUALIFIED VOTERS TO GAIN ACCESS TO THE BALLOT AND AT LEAST 500 OF THOSE SIGNATURES MUST BE FROM 13 CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICTS, ACCORDING TO THE NEW YORK STATE BOARD OF ELECTIONS.  

STEIN SAid THEY ARE RUNNING FOR 21 CURRENT BALLOT LINES AND petitioning IN ANOTHER 25 STATES, primarily RELYING ON VOLUNTEERS TO HELP CAMPAIGN.  

“Basically, we are on track to be the only pro-worker, anti-genocide, climate emergency choice that will be on the ballot for voters across the nation,” she said. 

STEIN SAid IF ELECTED SHE WOULD MAKE STRIDES ON A NUMBER OF ISSUES INCLUDING THE ENVIRONMENT, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND ABORTION.  

“I see abortion as a critical piece of healthcare and reproductive healthcare which is essential to care,” said Stein. 

THE PETITION MUST BE FILED WITH THE NEW YORK STATE BOARD OF ELECTIONS BY THE END OF MAY.