2000: The Green Party of Delaware qualified for statewide ballot status in March 2000.
Before 2010, the criteria for ballot status in Delaare was to have at least 0.1% of registered voters. In 2000 that number was 235.
The Green Party of Delaware had 435 Green registrants by the March 2000 deadline for the November 2000 elections, and thus achieved ballot status for that election, as of that date.
Since 2000, the Green Party of Delaware’s registration total has remained above the necessary threshold, and hence the party has retained ballot status ever since. However on February 1st, 2010 the Governor of Delaware signed a law raising the ballot qualification percentage to 0.2% or 612 in 2010.
Since the Green Party of Delaware officially had approximately 550 registered voters at that time, it would have lost ballot status because after April 1 the state officially entered primary season, during which no one can change party registration. However, a coalition of Delaware’s minor parties reminded the Commissioner of Elections that it was unconstitutional to change the ballot laws in an election year. and a temporary rescinding of the law has been signed by both houses of the Delaware state legislature which restored the older standard until the end of 2010 at which time the new standard will take effect.