§301. Qualified parties
333 words·~2 min read·
/me/title-21-a-elections/chapter-5-nominations/301·A research copy — for the controlling text, always check the official state or federal source. Not legal advice.
1. Primary election. A party qualifies to participate in a primary election if its designation was listed on the ballot of either of the 2 preceding general elections and if:
A. The party held municipal caucuses as prescribed by Article 2 in at least one municipality in a minimum of 14 counties in the State during the election year in which the designation was listed on the ballot and any interim election year and fulfills this same requirement during the year of the primary election; [PL 2011, c. 227, §1 (AMD).]
B. The party held a state convention as prescribed by Article III during the election year in which the designation was listed on the ballot and any interim election year; and [PL 1999, c. 450, §1 (AMD).]
C. [PL 2009, c. 426, §1 (RP).]
D. [PL 1999, c. 450, §1 (RP).]
E. The party's candidate for Governor or for President received at least 5% of the total votes cast in the State for Governor or for President in the last preceding gubernatorial or presidential election or at least 5,000 voters were enrolled in the party as of the last general election, except that a qualified party does not have to meet the requirements of this paragraph until the 2nd general election after it has qualified and thereafter. [PL 2023, c. 400, §1 (AMD).]
Each state party committee must file a statement with the Secretary of State on or before March 20th certifying that the party has held the municipal caucuses required by paragraph A . The statement must be signed by the party chair or the chair's designated agent.
[PL 2023, c. 400, §1 (AMD).]
2. General election. A party which qualifies under subsection 1 to participate in a primary election must, in that same year, hold a state convention as prescribed by Article III in order to have the party designation of its candidates printed on the ballot in the general election of that year.
[PL 1985, c. 161, §6 (NEW).]