bernie not actually a registered democrat according to time mag bernie isn't actually a registered democrat apparently he'll need to register in order to be on the ballot for the new hampshire primary vermont election law does not allow people to legally and formally declare membership in a political party neither does texas sanders stated that he is running as a democrat when he filed with the fec he has caucused with the democrats in congress for many years he has won democratic primaries in vermont he will maintain his independent identity to the extent possible but i consider the chance that he will be kept off the new hampshire ballot as negligible let's discuss it