On May 15, the Maine Libertarian Party held a party meeting, and voted to attempt a petition to qualify the party for the 2012 ballot. See this story.
The full party petition in Maine has only existed since 1976, and has only been used successfully once, by the Reform Party in late 1995. However, even if the petition drive fails, any group that tells the state that it intends to complete this petition gains the ability for voters to register as members of that group. The newspaper story says 27,544 signatures are required. However, that is not accurate. The 2012 requirement will be 5% of the number of people who vote for Governor in November 2010, and obviously no one knows what the number will be. But it is likely to be approximately 20,000 signatures. No state ever has higher turnout in midterm years than in presidential years. The 27,544 figure is what would have been required this year, and is based on the very high-turnout 2008 election.
Minor parties generally gain qualified status in Maine by running someone for Governor who then polls 5%. That is a far easier method, because the candidate petition for Governor is 4,000 signatures, and a party label is permitted for candidate petitions. Libertarians in Maine were free to have used that method this year, but did not do so. Such a petition is due May 27, 2010.
The news story mentions that the Maine Libertarian Party had qualified status in 1992. This is correct. The party got that status by yet a third way. Maine law lets a group become a qualified party if any independent candidate for Governor or President who got 5% assigns his or her votes to that group, up to a year after the election. The Libertarian Party got qualified status in Maine in 1991 because an independent candidate for Governor in 1990, Andrew Adams, “gave” his 5% vote total to the party after the election was over. Adams had not been listed on the ballot as a Libertarian, just as an independent. No other state has ever had such a method for creating a new ballot-qualified party. The Maine Libertarian Party qualified status only lasted a year because it was unable to poll 5% for President in 1992. The law is different now, as a result of several improvements in the last few years. If a party gets qualified status under the new laws, it keeps it as long as it has at least 10,000 registered members who actually turn out and vote in any general election. It doesn’t matter who they vote for, just that they go to the polls and vote.
This is a pretty difficult petition requirement in a state with Maine’s population. When can they start this petition drive?
STEAL THIS IDEA:
The Lightning Party (“Politics are small, government is compassionate” —
We recognize that some theophilosophical ideologues can obstruct & preclude the political will of the common people. That is why there is separation of church & state in U.S. law.
We recognize the difference between justice and power of the wealthy as opposed to that of the impoverished, imprisoned & ill-educated. We acknowledge that working people are considered more valuable than the young, elderly or disabled because one group keeps our money flowing. Business considers those not working as a burden rather than a lesson in humanity.
We affirm that all people everywhere are entitled to the most basic necessities of proper food, clean water, clothing, shelter, medicine, education, equality under law and the free pursuit & expression of happiness, providing that these rights harm none other and that peace & security are maintained within our borders. We do not accept the yoke of corporate America. No one should be abused as a commodity or chattel.
America’s founders archetype has failed because we are as imperfect as they. We appeal to the common sense of citizens unimpeded by mental disorders which render some irreconcialably irrational. We support a ban of bio-chemical & nuclear warfare and the withdrawal from nations not requiring American intervention. In unambiguous actions we promise to proudly assert these principles. We will grow & evolve like life itself. We will not skulk into the night with our vices supplied by taxpayers, we will be forthcoming about donations & associations, we will not be bought & sold by special interests and we will not be filibustered into taking “no” for an answer from our competitors. With lightning efficiency & non-violence we will simply tell the truth and achieve success. We will do this by exposing lies, fraud, hypocrisy, secrets, illicit ventures, prejudice, accountability & illusions. We will do these things because we are fearless, joyful & dedicated. Join us, vote for us or accept the regressive status quo.
Where do you stand? It is every sentient beings responsibility to leave their planet a better place. Every moment is a choice. In a flash of conscience, choose wisely. Choose NOW. It will differentiate between wheat & chaff. It will make America free.
We will not skulk into the night
THe party petition drive in Maine can start now. But no one may sign except registered independents and registered members of the Libertarian Party. It is likely that that restriction, in conjunction with the very high number of signatures, is unconstitutional. The only other state that ever said only certain types of people could sign a petition (other than a petition to get someone on a party primary ballot), based on how the signers are registered, was Arizona. It had a law that only registered independents could sign for an independent. It was held unconstitutional in 1999.
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Actually the 27,544 figure is based on the published vote totals for the 2006 governor’s race
http://www.maine.gov/sos/cec/elec/2006g/gen06gv.html
I do know the RPUSA has endorsed a candidate for governor in Alex Hammer.
http://www.hammer2010.com