Virginia elects all 100 members of its House of Delegates on November 3, 2009. For the first time since Virginia started printing party labels on general election ballots (for office besides just president), six parties have candidates on the ballot for House of Delegates. The Independent Green Party has 7 nominees with the party label; the Constitution Party has 3; the Libertarian Party has 1; the Green Party has 1.

Both of Virginia’s independent House members are running for re-election. Lacey Putney has a Democratic and a Constitution Party opponent. Watkins Abbitt is unopposed. Thanks to Carey Campbell and Kimberly Wilder for telling me that the Virginia State Board of Elections had finally posted its list of candidates.

Republicans have nominees in 84 of the districts, and Democrats have 70 nominees. Therefore, there are 46 of the 100 districts with no Democrat-Republican contest. There are 16 independent candidates. According to the Independent Green Party, three of the candidates with “independent” as their label are really Independent Green Party members.

Virginia started printing party labels on general election ballots (for office other than president) in 2001.

The June 23 issue of the Seattle Times has this editorial. The Times always has supported “top-two”, but this editorial admits the system has problems. The editorial was stimulated by Krist Novoselic’s earlier candidacy for County Clerk of Wahkiakum County with the “prefers Grange Party” label.

Portland, Maine, has a city council of 9 members, and 3 of them are Green Party members. The June 28 issue of Portland’s daily newspaper, the Press Herald, has this insightful article about how the Green members have affected city government. Thanks to Dan Jenkins for the link.