Sec. 1. 21-A MRSA §308 is enacted to read:

§308.__Minor parties

1.__Organization. Notwithstanding the provisions of this article, a minor party may organize pursuant to the provisions of this section.

2.__Municipal caucuses.__A minor party must organize every odd-numbered year by holding at least one municipal caucus in every county pursuant to section 311.

3.__County committees.__A minor party county committee is formed by the municipal caucuses in that county pursuant to subsection 1. The number of delegates nominated to a minor party county committee by a municipal caucus must be determined by the minor party state committee formed pursuant to subsection 4, except that each municipal caucus is entitled to nominate at least 3 delegates to the minor party county committee. If there are at least two municipal caucuses held in a county under subsection 2, then the caucuses must form a minor party county committee. If a minor party county committee is not formed in a county, then the caucus of a municipality in that county pursuant to subsection 1 is deemed to be the minor party county committee.

4.__State committee.__The chair of each minor party county committee is a member of the minor party state committee and each minor party county committee may elect up to 2 other delegates to the minor party state committee.

5.__Nominations.__A minor party county committee nominates a minor party local or county candidate for that county.__A minor party state committee nominates a minor party statewide, federal or presidential elector candidate. The party must file a certification of the name of a candidate nominated under this subsection to the Secretary of State by 5:00 p.m. on June 1st in the election year in which the candidate is running, except that certification for a slate of candidates for the office of presidential elector must be filed in the office of the Secretary of State by 5:00 p.m. on August 15th in the election year in which the slate of candidates is running.__The requirements of a nomination by petition under sections 351, 352 and 353; section 354, subsection 1; and sections 355 and 357 apply, as applicable, to a nomination by certification under this section.

Sec. 2. 21-A MRSA §331, sub-§2, ¶¶B and C, as enacted by PL 1985, c. 161, §6, are amended to read: