New Mexico is one of twelve states that lets state income taxpayers choose to send a contribution to the political party of the voter’s choice. New Mexico’s Tax Code says in section 7-2-31 that all parties qualified under section 1-7-2(A) are to be listed on the state income tax form, on the Voluntary Contributions Schedule.

However, the 2010 state income tax forms only list the Democratic and Republican Parties, even though when these forms were printed (in late 2010), the Libertarian, Constitution, and Independent Parties were ballot-qualified. This is the second time New Mexico tax forms have been prepared improperly; the 2007 forms had the same deficiency. The qualified minor parties complained in 2008, and the 2008 and 2009 tax forms did include the minor parties.

The political culture of New Mexico seems to encourage this type of behavior. New Mexico ballots in recent year have included a straight-ticket device, but only for the Democratic and Republican Parties. There is no authority in the law for any straight-ticket devices, but New Mexico ballots traditionally have had them anyway. Starting in 2006 the straight-ticket devices disappeared for the minor parties. The current Secretary of State says she won’t print any straight-ticket device for any party in 2012.

This news story says that Jack Kimball, New Hampshire Republican state chair, has arranged to delete his signature from the Libertarian Party’s ballot access petition. He says he thought he was signing for just a single Libertarian candidate, and hadn’t realized that he was signing a petition to put the party itself on the 2012 ballot. But he is still being pressed to resign, and the national Republican Party is apparently withholding at least $100,000 from the New Hampshire Republican Party unless Kimball resigns.

Virginia elects its state legislators every two years, in November of odd years. August 23 is the petition deadline for the 2011 legislative elections. It appears that the only parties, other than the Democratic and Republican Parties, with any legislative nominees in Virginia this year are the Independent Green Party and the Libertarian Party. The Independent Green Party won’t know for sure how many legislative nominees it has on the ballot until after the petitions have been checked, but it is likely to have between five and twelve. The Libertarians expect to have one nominee on the ballot. Thanks to Bob Johnston for the news about the Libertarian Party nominee.