Massachusetts
We encourage everyone to contact their Senators and Representative in Congress.
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STARTING A POLITICAL PARTY IN MASSACHUSETTS:
METHOD: Voter registration according to "Political Designation"
REGISTERED VOTERS REQUIRED: 1% of all registered voters (moving target)
REGISTERED VOTERS REQUIRED: 1% of all registered voters (moving target)
There are also currently twenty-six official "Political Designations" in Massachusetts. These Political Designations will not have a separate primary ballot, however persons enrolled in such are now eligible to vote in primaries. Those persons will be considered "Un-enrolled" voters for primary election purposes only, and may choose one of the three political party ballots at primary elections. The enrollment status of all such persons will automatically revert back to their original political designation after all primaries.
For further information and to view a complete listing of the current Political Parties and Designations, please click to this link from the Secretary of State's Office.
To review your own Political Status & Party Enrollment, click My Voter Status
Source: https://www.northreadingma.gov/town-clerk/pages/political-parties-and-political-designations
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For further information and to view a complete listing of the current Political Parties and Designations, please click to this link from the Secretary of State's Office.
To review your own Political Status & Party Enrollment, click My Voter Status
Source: https://www.northreadingma.gov/town-clerk/pages/political-parties-and-political-designations
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A political party in Massachusetts is defined as any party that, at the last preceding state election, polled for any statewide office at least 3 percent of the entire vote cast for that office.
In 2010, for example, 2,319,963 votes (including blank votes) were cast for Attorney General of Massachusetts, meaning that a party seeking recognition would have needed to field a candidate for that office who won at least 69,599 votes.
Alternatively, a political party can qualify for state recognition if at least 1 percent of all registered voters are enrolled as members of the party.
As of October 2012, for example, a total of 4,342,841 individuals were registered to vote in Massachusetts, meaning that a party seeking recognition would have needed to enroll at least 43,429 members. Such parties are eligible to conduct primary elections.
A political designation in Massachusetts refers to any designation, expressed in no more than three words, used to qualify a political party. At least 50 registered voters must file a form with the secretary of the commonwealth requesting that they and any other voters may change their registrations to the new designation. There is no stated deadline for filing this request, although any such request filed before December 1 in the year of a state election will not be effective until December 1.
Voters who enroll in legal political designations cannot vote in any state or presidential primaries. Political designations may also be used by individual candidates without the intent to qualify a political party.
Maintaining party statusIf a party fails to field a statewide candidate who polls at least 3 percent of the entire vote cast for that office or fails to enroll at least 1 percent of all registered voters, it ceases to be recognized as a political party.[5][8]
In 2010, for example, 2,319,963 votes (including blank votes) were cast for Attorney General of Massachusetts, meaning that a party seeking recognition would have needed to field a candidate for that office who won at least 69,599 votes.
Alternatively, a political party can qualify for state recognition if at least 1 percent of all registered voters are enrolled as members of the party.
As of October 2012, for example, a total of 4,342,841 individuals were registered to vote in Massachusetts, meaning that a party seeking recognition would have needed to enroll at least 43,429 members. Such parties are eligible to conduct primary elections.
A political designation in Massachusetts refers to any designation, expressed in no more than three words, used to qualify a political party. At least 50 registered voters must file a form with the secretary of the commonwealth requesting that they and any other voters may change their registrations to the new designation. There is no stated deadline for filing this request, although any such request filed before December 1 in the year of a state election will not be effective until December 1.
Voters who enroll in legal political designations cannot vote in any state or presidential primaries. Political designations may also be used by individual candidates without the intent to qualify a political party.
Maintaining party statusIf a party fails to field a statewide candidate who polls at least 3 percent of the entire vote cast for that office or fails to enroll at least 1 percent of all registered voters, it ceases to be recognized as a political party.[5][8]
As of May 2017, there were three officially recognized political parties in Massachusetts: the Democratic, Libertarian, and Republican parties.
Democratic Party of Massachusetts Link Party by-laws
Libertarian Party of Massachusetts Link Party by-laws
Republican Party of Massachusetts Link Party by-laws
Libertarian Party of Massachusetts Link Party by-laws
Republican Party of Massachusetts Link Party by-laws
See statutes: Massachusetts General Laws, Part I, Title VIII, Chapter 50, Section 1
Source: Ballotpedia
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Source: Ballotpedia
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