On April 7, New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson signed SB 3, which deletes the requirement that members of major parties need any signatures to get on the primary ballot, if they are running for partisan county office, or for certain state executive positions that are elected by district.
Although the bill does not offer any relief to independent candidates, or to members of qualified minor parties (all of whom need petitions), the policy change made by SB 3 will be useful in litigation and future lobbying on behalf of independent and minor party members.
Richard, are you saying this bill will help independents and smaller-minority parties (no party has a majority of the US as its members) because it shows a clear bias in favor of the established “big two” minority parties?
Any news on indictments against Richardson? I thought he was playing the same game as Blago was in Illinois.
yes to question number one.
I find it odd that petitioning requirements exist for a major party primary candidate, beyond waiving a filing fee.
They don’t in Minnesota and we do not have overly crowded primaries. Currently, three parties qualify as ‘major’ under the law and we have had as many as four such parties within the past decade.