BANGOR (AP) – The number of Green Party voters in Maine grew 27 percent last year and now represents the highest percentage of Green voters in any state.

There were 24,155 registered Green party members last November, according to new voter registration totals from the Secretary of State’s Office.

Matt Tilley, co-chairman of the Maine Green Independent Party, was enthusiastic but a bit wary of the new total, which represented a jump of more than 5,000 members from January 2004.

Tilley attributed at least part of the increase to more younger voters entering the party and some likely duplication among town voting lists. He also credited the presence of Mainer Pat LaMarche on the national party’s 2004 presidential ticket, even though that ticket received less than 1 percent of the statewide vote.

“It’s remarkable in a way, but we’ll take it,” said Tilley, who is from Bangor.

While Green membership remains a fraction of that of the major parties, as a percentage the Maine Greens fared well.

As of November 2004, there were 393,151 independent or “unenrolled” voters in Maine, 319,198 Democrats, and 287,452 Republicans.

Maine Greens, at 2.3 percent of the statewide electorate, boasted the highest percentage of Green voters anywhere in the country.

But even as the Maine Greens appear to be gaining ground in terms of numbers, the party continues to struggle financially. The party has shut down its Portland office and is in the process of closing its Augusta office, said Tilley, predicting the move will save the party about $5,000 a year.

The party last year operated on about $15,000, Tilley said. Without a headquarters, the party will hold its meetings at different locations throughout the state, he said.

“We’re going to take the show on the road,” Tilley said.