Two bills have been introduced in the New Hampshire legislature, for the 2022 session, to improve ballot access. Both are by Representative Kevin Craig (R-Lancaster). He is in his second term and represents part of Coos County, the northernmost county.

HB 1149 cuts the number of signatures for independent candidates, and the nominees of unqualified parties. Statewide petitions drop from 3,000 to 1,000. U.S. House from 1,500 to 500. State Senate from 750 to 250; State House from 150 to 50.

HB 1197 changes the definition of a qualified party from a group that polled 4% for either Governor or U.S. Senator, to 1%. Thanks to Alvin See for this news.

On December 2, the Maine Secretary of State released new registration data. See it here. The state totals are: Democratic 399,135; Republican 315,907; independent 361,602; Green 45,578; Libertarian 254; People’s 41.

Percentages are: 35.56%; Republican 28.14%; independent and other 32.21%; Green 4.06%; Libertarian .02%; People’s .00+.

Percentages in November 2020 were: Democratic 35.68%; Republican 28.36%; independent and other 31.94%; Green 4.01%; Libertarian .00+.

The reason the Libertarian registration is so low is that the state converted all registered Libertarians to independents in early 2019.

The December 1, 2021 print issue of Ballot Access News has a registration chart showing the number of voters in each party, in each state. However that issue went to press before the new Maine data was available.

On December 6, New Mexico State Senator Jacob Candelaria announced that he had changed his registration from “Democratic” to “independent.” See this story.