麻州正式通過成立“聯合獨立黨”

OFFICIAL PARTY CERTIFICATION OF MASSACHUSETTS’ NEW “UNITED INDEPENDENT PARTY” ANNOUNCED BY SECRETARY OF STATE’S OFFICE

UIP to gather voter enrollments in 2015 and run candidates in 2016 election
 

Boston – The United Independent Party (UIP) today officially took its place alongside Democrats and Republicans as a recognized, major political party in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. The news came following certification of November 4 election results released by Secretary of State William Galvin’s office on December 3.  

2014 gubernatorial candidate Evan Falchuk, who ran for Governor of Massachusetts as the United Independent Party candidate, earned nearly 72,000 votes on Election Day this year. In doing so, Falchuk earned in excess of the three percent of votes required in the November 4 statewide election for the United Independent Party to receive official recognition as a “major” party alongside the Democratic and Republican parties. The United Independent Party – dedicated to a greater diversity of progressive ideas combined with fiscally sane solutions – now will be on equal footing under state law with Democrats and Republicans regarding equal election and fundraising laws.

Next in UIP plans, Falchuk noted, is running candidates for office throughout Massachusetts in the 2016 elections, and aggressively boosting voter enrollments in the United Independent Party throughout 2015.

“Already, nearly twenty prospective candidates have contacted us about running for office as UIP candidates, including current Democrats and Republicans,” Falchuk stated. “We’re interested in helping smart, pragmatic, winnable candidates run for office – particularly for our State House’s Senate and House seats, the majority of which run unopposed each election cycle.”

To maintain major party status in Massachusetts, state law requires that at least one percent of Massachusetts voters enroll with the United Independent Party in time for the 2016 elections. Voters may download the Secretary of State’s official “Mail-In Voter Registration Form” by visiting http://bit.ly/15T2O9A.

“Now that we received official party certification from the Secretary of State’s office, we can ramp up our statewide efforts to enroll a minimum of one percent of voters in the UIP. We know this will happen, and is a big part of what will help our staying power as a major party in Massachusetts,” said Falchuk.

“The growing level of interest among voters we’re seeing at everything from our UIP supporter meetings to our social media pages speaks volumes on this front. This is a long-term game plan,” Falchuk added.  “If we work hard and stay focused, we can achieve this required number of voter enrollees in our party, and in so doing provide voters with a wider, substantial set of new candidates from which to choose in every state election.”

The United Independent Party is dedicated to smart, brave reform of our politics, economy and government.  The pragmatic party is focused on the principles that everyone is equal, everyone’s civil liberties must be protected, and government must spend taxpayer dollars wisely.

Both prior to and following the November 4 general election, people from several states including New Hampshire, California, Maryland, Virginia and Alabama have contacted Massachusetts’ new United Independent Party asking how their respective states go about creating a state UIP of their own. 

Increasing interest in the UIP and its pragmatic focus, but in and outside of Massachusetts, speaks to the growing national interest in a viable, more independent-minded party. A record 60 percent of Americans call for the creation of a new third party, according to national polling and research firm Gallup, with 58 percent of Massachusetts voters calling for the same, according to polling firm DAPA Research, Inc.

Falchuk noted that United Independent Party supporters and activists plan to maintain the UIP’s official party status. “Since just 35 percent of registered voters in the Commonwealth are Democrats, and only 11 percent are Republicans, we have the very real opportunity here of making Massachusetts the first state in the nation where the ‘third’ party actually becomes the ‘second’ party,’” he said. “This is significant, and lines things up for Massachusetts setting a national, historic precedent.”

For information about enrolling in Massachusetts’ new United Independent Party, visit www.UnitedIndependent.org/enroll.