The United Independent Party is not ballot-qualified in Massachusetts, but it hopes to become ballot-qualified on November 4, 2014, by polling at least 3% of the vote for Evan Falchuk, its gubernatorial nominee. In the meantime, it is also launching a voter registration drive to gain more registered members. Ever since 1991, a group in Massachusetts can obtain, or retain, qualified status if it has registration equal to at least 1% of the state total.
No group in Massachusetts has ever made a serious attempt to use the 1% registration method. The United Independent Party is aware that even if it becomes ballot-qualified by its gubernatorial vote next month, the Massachusetts 3% vote test applies every two years, and there are no statewide races in Massachusetts in 2016 except president. The United Independent Party doesn’t expect to get involved in the 2016 presidential election because it is just a party concerned with Massachusetts government. Therefore, the party wants to increase its registration so that (assuming it gets qualified status next month) it can retain it beyond the 2016 election.
The party says even if Falchuk doesn’t get 3% for Governor next month, it will still pursue the registration drive. The registration drive will be easier of Falchuk does get 3%, because if he does, Massachusetts will print new voter registration forms that list the United Independent Party as a choice, with its own checkbox. Without qualified status, the United Independent Party can still increase its registration, but the party’s name must be written in on the voter registration form, which takes longer. Here is a copy of a current Massachusetts voter registration form.
I didn’t see anywhere on the card for the name United Independent Party. Does the voter have to write such in?
Also, wasn’t there another Independent Party about 16 or 18 years ago which participated in a Presidential Preference Primary, and any candidate for President could enter? I think there were 5 or 6 “major” 3rd party presidential candidates, and the primary was won by Howard Phillips of the former U.S. Taxpayers Party.
Yes, there was a ballot-qualified party in Massachusetts from November 1990 to November 1992. It was on the ballot in 1990 as the Hi-Tech Independents Party but then the state let it change its name to the Independent Voters Party. It went off the ballot in November 1992 because president had been the only statewide office and Howard Phillips, its presidential nominee, did not get 3%.
Right now the United Independent Party is not ballot-qualified, so its name on the registration card must be written in. At least the state gives a fairly lengthy space for that purpose.