FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 27, 2012
Contact: Megan Sanborn
(207) 441-0501

Secretary of State Charles E. Summers, Jr. Validates Signatures for Americans Elect Party

AUGUSTA, MAINE —Secretary of State Charlie Summers announced Wednesday that the Americans Elect Party successfully gathered sufficient signatures of Maine registered voters to qualify to participate in the June 12, 2012 Primary Election.

In order to gain qualified party status in Maine, the Americans Elect Party was required to submit at least 28,638 signatures from Maine registered voters who are either enrolled in the Americans Elect Party or who are unenrolled. The Americans Elect Party submitted signatures to the Secretary of State on December 15, 2011. Maine election law requires that the petitions be filed before 5 p.m. on the 180th day preceding the primary election (which was December 15, 2011) and must contain signatures and legal addresses of voters equal in number to at least 5% of the total vote cast in the State for Governor at the last preceding gubernatorial election. 

After a thorough review of the petitions, officials at the Bureau of Corporations, Elections and Commissions prepared the Determination of Validity that enumerates the certification effort supervised by the Secretary of State. The Determination finds that 30,908 of the submitted signatures are valid; this surpasses the required number by 2,270 signatures.

After the Americans Elect Party holds its required municipal caucuses and state convention, the party is qualified to nominate candidates for the primary ballot as well as nominate a presidential candidate.