The Maryland Green Party has 14,613 signatures on its petition to be on the ballot in 2012 and 2014.  The Maryland Libertarian Party has 10,200 signatures on its petition.  The requirement is 10,000.  Both parties have rushed to finish these petitions, because if they submit at least 10,000 raw signatures by January 4, 2011, the state will let the voters who are registered in those parties continue to be registered that way.  Otherwise, those voters will all be converted to independents, unless they choose another qualified party.

It is likely the Green Party already has enough signatures.  The Libertarian Party will have three weeks after January 4, 2011, to make sure they have 10,000 valid signatures.  The Constitution Party has also started its Maryland petition drive.