Thing is, by not running a candidate, they didn’t get any votes. When you petition to get on ballots, aren’t you automatically on the next on if you get x number of votes?
And at a certain level you are eligible for matching funds?
The laws vary by state, I think. California, for example, AUTOMATICALLY puts the Greens and Libertarians on the ballot, regardless of their performance...it is in the State Constitution (or at least state law). Pretty crappy stuff.