Compared to November 8, 2000 (the day after that year’s presidential election), here are the changes in “qualified status” for each political party, as a result of election results, various voter registration drives, and various legislative changes since then:
- Libertarian: was on in 25 states then, now on in 26. Gains since Nov. 8, 2000 are Hawaii, Louisiana, Maryland, Michigan. Losses since then are Alabama, Massachusetts, and Washington.
- Green: was on in 20 states then, now on in 16. Gains are Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, South Carolina, Vermont. Losses are Iowa, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, New York, Rhode Island, Texas (not included in the above tally is the Connecticut status for president only, which existed after 2000 but no longer does).
- Constitution: was on in 13 states then, now on in 15. Gains are Maryland, Michigan, South Dakota. Loss in Kansas.
- Natural Law: was on in 11 states then, now on in 7. Gain in Michigan. Losses in Colorado, Montana, Nevada, South Carolina, Vermont.
- Reform: was on in 12 states then, now on in 7. Gain in Louisiana. Losses in California, Colorado, Idaho, Michigan, Montana, Oregon, South Dakota.
Changes in the status of parties that only exist in a single state are:
- California: Peace & Freedom Party was not on the ballot in 2000 but is now.
- New York: Liberal and Right-to-Life Parties were on in 2000, but not now.
- Rhode Island: Cool Moose Party no longer exists.
- Vermont: Grassroots Party no longer exists, but a Marijuana Party has risen to take its place.
Nice to see the Libertarians taking steps forward.
Same here with the Constitution Party
It is a shame to see the Green Party come into this election with 23 ballot lines and leave it with 16, but expect we will recover by this time in 2008.
Just a note on the Natural Law Party, This year the national party organization was officially disbanded.
^ For the Natural Law Party, didn’t they throw their support this year behind Kucinich to try and give him a small push for the Democratic nomination.
The America First Party became Mississippi’s eighth
qualified party in 2004.
The Constitution and Green parties likely lost ballot status in Utah, as none of their candidates obtained the required two percent of the votes cast in all three of Utah’s congressional races.
I believe the Constitution Party achieved minor party status in Pennsylvania, which they didn’t have in 2002.
Yes, the Constitution, Libertarian, and Green parties will have minor-party status in Pennsylvania for the next two years, but as far as “ballot status” goes, they only have it for special elections.
The push for Kucinich was more from the founders of the Natural Law Party rather than an official decree. The party was dead by that point.