SOLON, Maine (AP) A U.S. Senate hopeful is leaving the Maine Green Independent Party to make it easier to get onto the November ballot.

Lisa Savage, an educator from Solon, says running as an independent candidate will free her from the requirement of getting signatures from 2,000 Greens by March 15 to qualify for the June 9 primary.

As an independent, Savage will have to gather double the signatures – 4,000 – but the signatures can come from any registered Maine voter.

The deadline for her to submit the signatures will be June 1.

Four Democrats are vying to unseat Republican Sen. Susan Collins along with several other independents in addition to Savage.