This proposed law would change the state election laws governing the establishment of political parties and the nomination of candidates.

The proposed law would allow voters to register under a political designation other than "Independent" and in addition to the two political parties previously recognized by law (Republican or Democrat), if at least fifty voters request to be permitted to do so. It would allow any group to qualify as a political party under

Massachusetts law if at least one percent of the total number of registered voters register to vote using that group's political designation, or if at least three percent of the votes cast at the preceding election for any statewide office were cast for a candidate running under that group's political designation.

The proposed law would set the minimum number of signatures needed on independent or minor party nomination papers for state office at one-half of one percent (1/2%) of the entire vote cast in the previous state election for governor (as compared to 2% as of 1989), and would also establish this number of signatures as the upper limit needed for major party candidates. The proposed law would also permit voters to sign the nomination papers of any number of candidates for the same office, would require that all blank forms to be used for nomination papers and initiative and referendum petitions be no more than 8 1/2" by 14" in size, and would allow signatures to be collected on exact copies of those forms.