Libertarian Party of Maine qualifies as political party

AUGUSTA - The Libertarian Party of Maine has submitted the required number of enrollments to qualify as a political party in the State of Maine.

Per Maine law, a new party can form via party enrollment, if at least 5,000 voters enroll in the party by the Dec. 1 deadline. The Libertarian Party of Maine proponents challenged this provision in court when the Department of the Secretary of State found that the party had submitted only 4,513 valid enrollments by the deadline and thus did not qualify for party status.

In the May 27, 2016 ruling of U.S. District Judge John A. Woodcock Jr., the Libertarian Party of Maine received an extended deadline, allowing them to retain their 4,513 enrollments and continue collecting party enrollments through Tuesday, July 12.

As of Wednesday, July 13, the Department of the Secretary of State confirmed 637 new, valid enrollments in the Libertarian Party of Maine, which brings the party's total to 5,150.

Qualified parties can certify their presidential and vice presidential candidates' names for the Nov. 8 General Election ballot and can nominate candidates in the primary elections. Maine has three other qualified political parties in which a voter can enroll: Democratic, Green Independent and Republican.

To retain qualified party status, qualified parties must have at least 10,000 registered voters who are enrolled in the party cast ballots in the General Election, among other provisions in Maine law.