FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Monday, Dec. 17, 2018
Contact: Kristen Schulze Muszynski
207-626-8404 / 207-441-7638

Libertarian Party loses party status; members now unenrolled

AUGUSTA – The Libertarian Party is no longer recognized as a qualified political party in the State of Maine, due to a failure to meet the enrollment threshold outlined in the party status requirements of Maine law.

To retain party status, qualified political 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. As of the Nov. 6, 2018 General Election, only 6,168 voters were enrolled as Libertarians.

All voters who were registered as Libertarians are now listed as “unenrolled” in a party, as of Dec. 4, 2018. The Libertarian Party was originally qualified in July of 2016 with 5,150 enrollments.

The Libertarian Party has filed a renewed declaration of intent to form a party and must collect at least 5,000 enrollees by Jan. 2, 2020. A voter may enroll in the Libertarian Party by completing a new Maine Voter Registration Application. The voter must check the box next to “other qualifying party:” and write in “Libertarian” or “Libertarian Party.” The Libertarian Party will not be pre-printed on the Maine Voter Registration Application unless it becomes a qualified party. Once a voter has enrolled in the Libertarian Party, the voter must remain in the party for three months before the voter can file an application for either a withdrawal or change in enrollment.

Only three political parties are officially recognized in the State of Maine: Democratic, Green Independent and Republican. Any voter not belonging to one of these three parties is considered “unenrolled.” Qualified parties can certify their presidential and vice-presidential candidates’ names for the November 2020 General Election ballot and can nominate candidates in the primary elections.