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.)