Creating a New Political Party
There are many reasons why only 2 political parties are recognized by all 50 states. The rules (of law) by which a political party can be formed are mind-numbingly complicated.
We seek to be recognized by all 50 states so that we can be a true "third" party to every citizen of the United States.
Each state has unique laws, rules and procedures that must be followed by a political party in order for each state to officially recognize the party.
There are 19 states that do NOT register voters according to party affiliation:
- Alabama
- Georgia
- Hawaii
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Montana
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- South Carolina
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Vermont
- Virginia
- Washington
- Wisconsin
In the states that do register voters according to political party preference, nearly a third of all voters are NOT affiliated with any party:
Below is a (very) over-simplified summary of the effort needed to create a new party.
Click on each state below for additional information.
Alabama - Petition (3% of votes in last election)
Alaska - Petition (3% of votes in last election)
Arizona - Petition (21,000+)
Arkansas - Petition (10,000 signatures in 90 days)
California - Voter Registration (0.33% of registered voters)
Colorado - Voter Registration (1,000 registered voters)
Connecticut - Certified Candidate (receives 1% of the votes)
Delaware - Voter Registration (1% of registered voters)
Florida - Voter Registration (5%) for major party (unclear for minor party)
Georgia - Petition (same as independent candidates)
Hawaii - Petition (0.1% of registered voters)
Idaho - Petition (2% of voters in last election)
Illinois - State law declared unconstitutional
Indiana - Candidate for Secretary of State (receives 2% of votes)
Iowa - Candidate for President or Governor (receives 2% of votes)
Kansas - Petition (2% of votes for governor)
Kentucky - Candidate for President (2% of votes - to become political organization)
Louisiana -Voter Registration (1,000 registered voters) + $1,000 fee.
Maine - Voter Registration (5,000 registered voters)
Maryland - Petition (10,000 signatures)
Massachusetts - Voter Registration (1% of registered voters)
Michigan - Petition (31,566 signatures)
Minnesota - Petition (5% of votes in last election)
Mississippi - Simply organize and apply - one of the easiest in the nation.
Missouri - Petition (10,000 signatures)
Montana - Petition (5% of votes in last election)
Nebraska - Petition (1% of votes in last election)
Nevada - Petition (1% of votes in last election) + list of candidates
New Hampshire - Petition (3% of votes in last election)
New Jersey - General Assembly Candidates (10% of all votes)
New Mexico - Candidate for President or Governor (5% of votes) and Voter Registration (0.33%) and Petition (0.5% votes cast for Governor)
New York - Candidate for Governor (50,000 votes)
North Carolina - Petition (0.25% of votes in last election - 11,171 signatures)
North Dakota - Petition (7,000 signatures)
Ohio - Petition (1% of votes in last election)
Oklahoma - Petition (3% of votes in last election)
Oregon - Petition (22,046 signatures)
Pennsylvania - Candidate (2% of votes)
Rhode Island - Petition (5% of votes in last election)
South Carolina - Petition (5% of registered voters)
South Dakota - Petition (2.5% of votes for governor)
Tennessee - Petition (2.5% of votes for governor)
Texas - Petition (1% of votes for governor)
Utah - Petition (2,000 signatures)
Vermont - Organize in at least 10 towns
Virginia - Petition (10,000) + Statewide Candidate (10% of votes)
Washington - Does not require party affiliation.
West Virginia - Candidate for Governor (received 1% of votes cast)
Wisconsin - Petition (10,000 signatures)
Wyoming - Petition (2.5% of votes for U.S. Representative)
Alaska - Petition (3% of votes in last election)
Arizona - Petition (21,000+)
Arkansas - Petition (10,000 signatures in 90 days)
California - Voter Registration (0.33% of registered voters)
Colorado - Voter Registration (1,000 registered voters)
Connecticut - Certified Candidate (receives 1% of the votes)
Delaware - Voter Registration (1% of registered voters)
Florida - Voter Registration (5%) for major party (unclear for minor party)
Georgia - Petition (same as independent candidates)
Hawaii - Petition (0.1% of registered voters)
Idaho - Petition (2% of voters in last election)
Illinois - State law declared unconstitutional
Indiana - Candidate for Secretary of State (receives 2% of votes)
Iowa - Candidate for President or Governor (receives 2% of votes)
Kansas - Petition (2% of votes for governor)
Kentucky - Candidate for President (2% of votes - to become political organization)
Louisiana -Voter Registration (1,000 registered voters) + $1,000 fee.
Maine - Voter Registration (5,000 registered voters)
Maryland - Petition (10,000 signatures)
Massachusetts - Voter Registration (1% of registered voters)
Michigan - Petition (31,566 signatures)
Minnesota - Petition (5% of votes in last election)
Mississippi - Simply organize and apply - one of the easiest in the nation.
Missouri - Petition (10,000 signatures)
Montana - Petition (5% of votes in last election)
Nebraska - Petition (1% of votes in last election)
Nevada - Petition (1% of votes in last election) + list of candidates
New Hampshire - Petition (3% of votes in last election)
New Jersey - General Assembly Candidates (10% of all votes)
New Mexico - Candidate for President or Governor (5% of votes) and Voter Registration (0.33%) and Petition (0.5% votes cast for Governor)
New York - Candidate for Governor (50,000 votes)
North Carolina - Petition (0.25% of votes in last election - 11,171 signatures)
North Dakota - Petition (7,000 signatures)
Ohio - Petition (1% of votes in last election)
Oklahoma - Petition (3% of votes in last election)
Oregon - Petition (22,046 signatures)
Pennsylvania - Candidate (2% of votes)
Rhode Island - Petition (5% of votes in last election)
South Carolina - Petition (5% of registered voters)
South Dakota - Petition (2.5% of votes for governor)
Tennessee - Petition (2.5% of votes for governor)
Texas - Petition (1% of votes for governor)
Utah - Petition (2,000 signatures)
Vermont - Organize in at least 10 towns
Virginia - Petition (10,000) + Statewide Candidate (10% of votes)
Washington - Does not require party affiliation.
West Virginia - Candidate for Governor (received 1% of votes cast)
Wisconsin - Petition (10,000 signatures)
Wyoming - Petition (2.5% of votes for U.S. Representative)