Secretary of State Matt Dunlap on Wednesday certified that the Libertarian Party of Maine has achieved enough enrollments to qualify as a political party.
The Bangor Daily News already reported that on Tuesday based on information from Libertarian officials, but Dunlap has now made it official.
According to a news release from Dunlap’s office, the party has enrolled 5,150 new Libertarians, surpassing the threshold required to form a new party by 150. That means the Libertarians, along with Maine’s other three political parties, can certify their presidential and vice presidential candidates for the Nov. 8 general election ballot and can nominate candidates for future primary elections.
To retain its status the Libertarian Party must have at least 10,000 registered Libertarians vote in November, along with other requirements such as holding an annual state-level political convention.
Libertarian officials said Tuesday that their successful registration drive will spur national groups to help them achieve 10,000 registrants by November.
The Libertarians’ bid was initially rejected in December 2015 because the state could not verify some of their registrants as being Maine voters but their deadline was extended in U.S. District Court.
Send questions/comments to the editors.
