AUGUSTA — Independent candidate for governor Eliot Cutler is turning in more than 5,500 signatures to qualify for the November ballot.

On Thursday, Cutler delivered the signatures of Maine voters to the Secretary of State’s Office, where they will now be reviewed.

Videos

Additional Photos

Independent candidate for governor Elliot Cutler follows his deputy campaign manager Kaitlin Lacasse out of the elevator on Thursday as they deliver petition signatures to the Secretary of State’s Office in the Cross State Office Building in Augusta. Joe Phelan / Kennebec Journal Staff Photographer

Cutler is in a three-person race with Republican Gov. Paul LePage and Democratic candidate Mike Michaud, both of whom have already turned in signatures.

Before delivering the signatures Thursday, Cutler renewed his call for the candidates to debate soon and often. Cutler says they should hold a debate in every one of the state’s 16 counties since the field is set so early this year.

LePage’s campaign has said there will be plenty of time to debate while Michaud’s campaign has called the push for debates a political stunt.