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It is easy for a neophyte candidate running to get caught by surprise on this Massachusetts election law. If the candidate was not registered as an un-enrolled voter 90 continuous days before the deadline for nomination papers submission, the candidate cannot run in the General Election.

Green/Rainbow candidates must have been an un-enrolled voter (meaning not a registered Democrat, Republican, or Libertarian). This is because, under the present law, the GRP does not achieve the legal status of “party”, but is a “designation”.

The nomination papers deadline is the last Tuesday of May, for state representative or state senator.  Hence, it’s desirable for those presently registered to vote via a major party, to have become un-enrolled. So if the candidate is presently registered as a Democrat or Republican or Libertarian, the candidate must become unenrolled by mid-February. Earlier is better.

The Secretary of the Commonwealth describes the standards that apply to “non-party” candidates.  Here are the details: How to Run as a Non-Party Candidate

And in comprehensive PDF form: A Candidate’s Guide to the 2006 State Election (Secretary of the Commonwealth. January 2006.)

Deadlines (certified signatures and certificate from Office Campaign & Political Contributions)

Chapter 53: Section 10. Certificates of nomination and nomination papers; time for filing

Section 10. All certificates of nomination and nomination papers of candidates for the office of state representative, state senator, executive council, or county office shall be filed with the state secretary on or before the last Tuesday in May of the year in which a state election is to be held.

Residency Requirements and signature gathering

State Senator –  5 years residency in Massachusetts;  300 signatures; must be an inhabitant of district when elected.

State Representative –  one year residency in district; 150 signatures.

7 Comments

  1. eli_beckerman

    Just to clarify one point…

    There is a distinction between being registered “Unenrolled” and being registered in a political designation like Green-Rainbow. Unenrolling from a state-recognized political party (Democratic, Republican, Libertarian) isn’t enough if you’d like to run Green-Rainbow… you need to register Green-Rainbow (designation “J”).  

  2. Comment Planet

    Can you give a citation to the law and regulations that indicate the requirement to have designated, as well as be un-enrolled? I couldn’t find this when I was checking.

  3. Comment Planet

    This is as close as I have found so far for specifics. Mass General Laws:

    Chapter 53: Section 6. Nomination papers; contents; number of signatures; unenrolled candidates

    The name of a candidate for election to any office who is nominated otherwise than by a political party, generally referred to as an “Unenrolled” candidate, shall not be printed on the ballot at a state election, or on the ballot at any city or town election following a city or town primary, unless a certificate from the registrars of voters of the city or town wherein such person is a registered voter, certifying that he is not enrolled as a member of any political party, is filed with the state secretary or city or town clerk on or before the last day provided in section ten for filing nomination papers. Said registrars shall issue each certificate forthwith upon request of any such candidate who is not a member of a political party or his authorized representative. No such certificate shall be issued to any such candidate who shall have been an enrolled member of any political party during the time prior to the last day for filing nomination papers as provided in section ten, and on or after the day by which a primary candidate is required by section forty-eight to establish enrollment in a political party.

    • Comment Planet

      Chapter 53: Section 8. Certificates of nomination and nomination papers; contents; party designation

      Section 8. All certificates of nomination and nomination papers shall, in addition to the names of candidates, specify as to each, (1) his residence, with street and number, if any, (2) the office for which he is nominated, and (3) except as otherwise provided in this section and except for elections which are not preceded by primaries or political party caucuses, the political designation, if any, which he represents, expressed in not more than three words. This information, in addition to the district name or number, if any, shall be specified on the nomination paper before any signature of a purported registered voter is obtained and the circulation of nomination papers without such information is prohibited.

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It is easy for a neophyte candidate to get caught by surprise on this law. If the candidate was not registered as an un-enrolled voter 90 continuous days before the deadline for nomination papers submission, the candidate cannot run in the General Election.

Green/Rainbow candidates must have been an un-enrolled voter (meaning not a registered Democrat, Republican, or Libertarian). This is because, under the present law, the GRP does not achieve the legal status of “party”, but a “designation”.  

The nomination papers deadline is the last Tuesday of May, for state representative or state senator.  Hence, it’s desirable to have become un-enrolled, if the candidate is presently a Democrat or Republican, by mid-February. Earlier is better.

The Secretary of the Commonwealth describes the standards that apply to “non-party” candidates. The Green/Rainbow party is a “designation” and not a party, under present law and regulations. Here are the details: How to Run as a Non-Party Candidate

And in comprehensive PDF form: A Candidate’s Guide to the 2006 State Election (Secretary of the Commonwealth. January 2006.)

Deadlines (certified signatures and certificate from Office Campaign & Political Contributions)

Chapter 53: Section 10. Certificates of nomination and nomination papers; time for filing

Section 10. All certificates of nomination and nomination papers of candidates for the office of state representative, state senator, executive council, or county office shall be filed with the state secretary on or before the last Tuesday in May of the year in which a state election is to be held.

Residency Requirements and signature gathering

State Senator –  5 years residency in Massachusetts;  300 signatures; must be an inhabitant of district when elected.

State Representative –  one year residency in district; 150 signatures.

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