If a candidate has not been a member of the major political party for at least 180 days before the deadline for filing a nominating petition or declaration of candidacy, the candidate shall not be entitled to receive the nomination of that major political party. If a candidate’s registration becomes inactive, the inactive status shall not constitute a lapse of membership in the party if, immediately before the registration became inactive, the candidate was a member of the party and was not a member of any other political party within the 180 days preceding the deadline for filing a nominating petition or declaration of candidacy. The requirement that the candidate be qualified by length of membership does not apply to any candidate whose 18th birthday falls within the period of 180 days or to a write-in candidate. [1979 c.190 §108; 1991 c.719 §6; 1995 c.742 §11]