As previously reported, New Mexico SB 180 has already passed the Senate Judiciary Committee, and may receive a Senate vote at any time. It raises the petition for the nominee of a ballot-qualified convention party from 1% of the last gubernatorial vote, to 2%, for almost all offices, unless the party has about 12,000 registered members.
Please e-mail the Secretary of State at secretary.state@state.nm.us. Be courteous. Tell Maggie Toulouse Oliver that SB 180, an omnibus bill written by her office, should be amended to delete any change in the number of signatures for minor party nominees.
Already, for a US Senate candidate running in 2022, New Mexico required an independent to submit a petition of 2% of the last gubernatorial vote. For the nominee of a new party, two petitions would be required; one signed by .5% of the last gubernatorial vote to qualify the party, and then another petition signed by 1% of the last gubernatorial vote for each of that party’s nominees. No matter whether one considers the independent petition, or the minor party set of petitions, that makes New Mexico one of the most severe states in the nation for ballot access for office other than president (the New Mexico presidential requirements are easier than for other office).
Furthermore, New Mexico is the only state in the nation which requires the nominee of a qualified party to submit a petition to be on the general election ballot. That law is discriminatory because it doesn’t apply to parties that nominate by primary. Also it is not sensible to require two separate petitions. Maryland once had a similar law, but the highest state court invalidated it on the sensible grounds that once a party has attained qualified status, its nominees can be deemed to have support. Maryland Green Party v Maryland State Board of Elections, 832 A 2d 214 (2003).
ONE MORE ROTTED GERRYMANDER REGIME IGNORING ***EQUAL*** IN 14-1 AMDT.
EQUAL PETS/FILING FEES FOR ALL ***INDIVIDUAL*** CANDIDATES FOR SAME OFFICE IN SAME AREA.
I remember reading Toulouse-Oliver’s name before here. Don’t remember precisely what but probably another bad election law bill.
Minnesota may he trying to do something with the major party test poll.
Edward, is there a Minnesota bill on that subject?
Richard
Right now it is just some rumors. But I heard it from someone pretty reputable. I am digging around to see what I can find out.
Edward, make sure you tell any Minnesota legislators that the median vote test of the 50 states for party retention is 2%. Minnesota, at 5%, is already way too difficult.
So far, its only a senate bill. I have nicely told – what you said – the bill’s author.
No “pets,” no filing fees, no “candidates.” Ballot access should be strictly by party, and only precinct by precinct. A party qualifies a precinct by having a precinct party chair/representative/captain who represents that party in that precinct in between elections, and shows up in person to vote and marshal that party’s corner on election evening. The elite men who qualify to vote gather in a party corner while their property (wives, children, animals etc) and servants stay at home. Parties without a precinct captain in between elections, or whose precinct captain is missing on election evening, do not qualify to receive votes.
The election picks ONE Party which picks ONE office and X officeholders(s). Office of peace officer which combines duties of law enforcement officer, judge, jury, and executioner. Proceeds of poll tax pay peace officers salary . Deputies can be hired with voluntarily raised funds if needed. No other taxes. Easily memorized laws to fit on one printed page. Peace officers determine how those laws apply to any ambiguities in a real life situation as the responding officers. No other level of government except national military. There, officers below commander in chief picked as now. Commander in Chief picked by council of top generals and admirals.