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An Act To Improve Party Status Requirements
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1. 21-A MRSA §301, sub-§1, as amended by PL 2009, c. 426, §§1 and 2, is further amended to read:
 
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 II in at least one municipality in each county 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;
 
B.  The party held a state convention as prescribed by Article III3 during the election year in which the designation was listed on the ballot and any interim election year; and
 
E. At least 10,000 voters enrolled in the party voted in the last general election.
 
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.
 
SUMMARY
This bill removes the requirement that, in order to participate in a primary election, a political party must hold at least one municipal caucus in each county in the State.