On March 24, the New Mexico Secretary of State’s office said that the Libertarian Party’s petition for party status has enough valid signatures. The petition had been submitted back on November 28, 2005, and it took this long for it to be thoroughly examined.
Next, the Libertarian Party will probably file a lawsuit, arguing that since it has demonstrated it has a modicum of voter support, it is unconstitutional for the state to require additional thousands of signatures in support of the party’s convention nominees. The party has already nominated 3 candidates for statewide office, at its convention, but state law requires approximately 7,500 valid signatures on additional petitions for each of them. A similar lawsuit was won against Maryland in 2003. New Mexico is the only state which expects one petition to qualify a party, and then separate petitions for each of its nominees.
What an idiotic law! I am a registered Independent in NM, and this is an obstruction of our freedom as Americans to use our liberty to vote for who we think is the best person for the job. In this system of democracy, we should have more parties than just two to choose from. What do you expect from a state that has doubts about making cockfighting illegal. We have an inheritted right to be able to choose for whoever we wish.