Political parties and political designations in Massachusetts


In the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, there are four recognized political parties and an additional 25 political designations in which registered voters may choose to enroll. Voters may also choose to remain as "unenrolled voters". Political parties hold primary elections, while political designations do not. A political designation is a one-to-three word descriptive term which may appear next to candidates' names on election ballots. To be recognized as a political designation, fifty registered voters must file a document with the state seeking this status.

Background

In Massachusetts, election ballots include the candidates' names followed by either the candidates' party or his or her "political designation"—a one-to-three word description that must be another one-to-three word term whose recognition has been requested by fifty or more registered voters. In many cases, non-party designations include the word "party" in the designation. However, only four such designations actually correspond to organizations that are recognized by Massachusetts as political parties: the Republican Party, the Democratic Party, the Libertarian Party, and the Green-Rainbow Party.

Enrolled and unenrolled voters

In Massachusetts, registered voters may choose to enroll in a political party; enroll with a political designation; or choose to be an unenrolled voter.
Voters may change their enrollment status with their election official, with a deadline twenty days before an election.
All registered voters may vote in general elections. Massachusetts voters enrolled in a particular party may vote only in that party's primary, and cannot cross-over to vote in another party's primary, but "unenrolled" voters may cast a primary ballot for one of the four parties. Political designations are treated as "unenrolled" voters for primary purposes, and so they too may choose to vote in one of the party primaries.
Under Massachusetts law, a political designation is created when fifty registered Massachusetts voters "file a form with the Secretary of the Commonwealth requesting that they, or any other voters, may change their registration to such designation." These non-party political designations may field candidates for statewide office, if they petition with a sufficient number of signatures.
The various political designations have generally small membership, although they have attracted some media attention.

List of current parties and designations

As of 2019, the Secretary of the Commonwealth listed four officially recognized political parties and 26 officially recognized political designations in Massachusetts.
DesignationAbbreviationType
Democratic PartyDpolitical party
Republican PartyRpolitical party
Libertarian PartyLpolitical party
Green-Rainbow PartyJpolitical party
America First PartyVnon-party political designation
American Independent PartyQnon-party political designation
American Term LimitsBBnon-party political designation
Conservative PartyAnon-party political designation
Constitution PartyKnon-party political designation
Green Party USAGnon-party political designation
Interdependent 3rd PartyTnon-party political designation
Latino-Vote Partynon-party political designation
Massachusetts Independent PartyOnon-party political designation
Natural Law PartyBnon-party political designation
New Alliance PartyNnon-party political designation
New England Independence PartyNEnon-party political designation
New World CouncilCnon-party political designation
PirateXnon-party political designation
Pizza PartyAAnon-party political designation
Prohibition PartyPnon-party political designation
Rainbow CoalitionFnon-party political designation
Reform PartyEnon-party political designation
SocialistSnon-party political designation
Timesizing Not DownsizingMnon-party political designation
Twelve Visions PartyDDnon-party political designation
United Independent PartyCCnon-party political designation
Veterans Party AmericaWnon-party political designation
We The PeopleHnon-party political designation
Working FamiliesZnon-party political designation
World Citizens PartyYnon-party political designation