2000: The
Green Party of Delaware qualified for
statewide ballot status in March 2000.
Before 2010, the criteria for ballot status in Delaare was to have
at least 0.1% of registered voters. In 2000 that number was 235.
The
Green Party of Delaware had 435 Green registrants by the March
2000 deadline for the November 2000 elections, and
thus achieved ballot status for that election, as of that date.
Since 2000, the Green Party of
Delaware's registration total has remained above the necessary threshold,
and hence the
party has retained ballot status ever since. However
on February 1st, 2010 the Governor of Delaware signed a law raising the
ballot qualification percentage to 0.2% or 612 in 2010.
Since the Green
Party of Delaware officially had approximately 550 registered
voters at that
time, it would have lost ballot status because after April
1 the state officially entered primary season, during which
no one can change party registration. However, a coalition
of Delaware's minor parties reminded the Commissioner of Elections
that it was unconstitutional to change the ballot laws in an
election year. and a temporary rescinding of the law has been
signed by both houses of the Delaware state legislature which
restored the older standard until the end of 2010 at which
time the new standard will take effect.