37.77% of Mainers registered independent and other parties - Ballot Access News

Excerpt:
"Maine’s Secretary of State has finally released voter registration data for November 2006. The results are: Democratic 31.16%; Republican 28.12%; Green 2.95%; independent and other parties, 37.77%.

Back in November 2004, the Maine data was: Democratic 31.17%; Republican 28.07%; Green 2.36%; independent and other parties 38.40%. Thus, between November 2004 and November 2006, major party and independent registration was virtually unchanged, but the Green share increased 25%."

Alex Hammer: A couple of important points to consider:

First, all groups stayed around the same. When you're under 3% (Greens), it's easy to go up 25%. I'm happy for them, but that's not a huge number of people in relative terms, although it sounds large, as stated, on a percentage basis.

Second, Maine has a Clean Elections program that is a model for the nation (other states moving in our direction or have adopted) and has worked overall extremely well, but (some think for political reasons) despite this is under siege! (especially in regard to Gubernatorial candidates, there is also a movement underfoot in Maine to restrict public financing to only one Independent Gubernatorial candidate - Maine has had two recent Independent Governors and Angus King in 1998 won re-election in a landslide).

And the Maine Clean Elections fund has been raided on more than one occasion and never fully replenished.

Finally, what is the percentage of third party registered grouped with Independents? Why are they grouped together? (maybe there is a reason, I don't know). If the number of third party is small then it dilutes the Independent category. And Independents etc. shouldn't be listed last. They're the largest numbers in Maine! (We're not other, we're Independents!!!!!)

Thank you.

http://www.ballot-access.org/2007/03/26/maine-green-registration-rises-again/

Alex Hammer

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