Green Party of California Ballot Status History

1992: The Green Party of California achieved statewide ballot status in January

In California, political parties can qualify for statewide ballot status in either of two ways: by voter registration or petition. The number of registered voters needed is 1% of the number of persons who voted in the preceding gubernatorial election. The number of petition signers needed is 10% of the number of persons who voted in the preceding gubernatorial election. In order to qualify in time to participate in the 1992 partisan elections, the period of ballot qualification for the Green Party of California began in January 1990 and extended through December 1991. As of December 31st, 1991, the Green Party of California had 100,897 Green voter registrants, surpassing the 78,992 needed for statewide ballot status.

A political party in California may retain ballot status in either of two ways - by voter registration or statewide race. The number of registered voters needed is the same as to qualify for ballot status - 1% of the number of persons who voted in the preceding gubernatorial election. The statewide race method is a party may retain its ballot status by receiving at least 2% in any of seven statewide partisan Constitutional Office races - Governor, Lt. Governor, Secretary of State, Attorney General, Treasurer, Controller, Insurance Commissioner.

Margaret Garcia received 3.8% and 315,079 votes for Secretary of State, surpassing the 2% threshold necessary to retain statewide ballot status. Garcia's total retained ballot status for the Green Party of California, because after the November 1994 election, the number of voters needed to qualify (or re-qualify) went up to 89,007. Had Garcia not received the total she did, the Green Party of California would have then lost its ballot status as of January 1995, when it had only 78,597 registrants. In October 1995, its total was still only 79,825, and would not be above 89,007 again until September 1996, when it reached 89,106.

1998: The Green Party of California retained statewide ballot status in November

In November 1998, the Green Party had 98,443 registered members, more than the 89,007 needed at that point to retain statewide ballot status. Sara Amir received 3.1% and 247,702 votes for Lt. Governor, also surpassing the 2% threshold necessary to retain statewide ballot status. After the November 1998 election, the number of voters needed to qualify (or re-qualify) changed to 86,212. The Green Party of California's registration total has remained above that threshold (and subsequent ones) since.

2002: The Green Party of California retained statewide ballot status in November

As of November 2002, the Green Party had 155,952 registered members, more than the 77,389 needed at that point to retain statewide ballot status. Six candidates also received more the 2% necessary for the Green Party of California to retain statewide ballot status: Laura Wells received 419,873 votes (5.8%) for Controller; Peter Miguel Camejo received 393,036 votes (5.3%) for Governor; Jeanne Marie Rosenmeier received 356,077 votes (4.9%) for Treasurer, Donna Warren received 307,254 votes (4.2%) for Lt. Governor; Larry Shoup received 282,340 votes (3.9%) for Secretary of State; and David Ishmael Sheidlower received 277,667 votes (3.9%) for Insurance Commissioner.

As of November 2006, the Green Party had 141,4512 registered members, more than the 74,763 needed at that point to retain statewide ballot status. Six candidates also received more the 2% necessary for the Green Party of California to retain statewide ballot status: Larry Cafiero received 270,218 (3.2%) for Insurance Commissioner. Laura Wells received 260,047 vote (3.2%) for Controller; Donna Warren received 239,107 (2.8%) for Lt. Governor; Methul Thakker received 201,670 (2.4%) for Treasurer, Peter Miguel Camejo received 205,995 (2.3%)s for Governor; Mike Wyman received 195,130 votes (2.3%) for Attorney General and Forrest Hill received 181,369 (2.2%) for Secretary of State.

2010: The Green Party of California retained statewide ballot status in November