Judge Narrows the Field for Voters

Court rejects ballot access challenge by Libertarian Party:

SANTA FE (AP) - A federal judge has rejected a constitutional challenge to New Mexico's law governing whether minor party candidates can run for office. The ruling by U.S. District Judge Martha Vazquez means the Libertarian Party will have no candidates for statewide office on the Nov. 7 general election ballot. Libertarians filed a lawsuit in July seeking to invalidate a two-petition ballot access system imposed on minor parties in New Mexico. Vazquez on Monday ruled in favor of the state.

"New Mexico's political party and candidate nominating petition requirements, considered as part of an electoral scheme that provides constitutionally sufficient ballot access, do not impose an unconstitutional burden upon the First and Fourth Amendment rights of plaintiffs," Vazquez said in a 25-page opinion. Bryan Sells, an Atlanta-based lawyer for the American Civil Liberties Union, which helped bring the lawsuit, said Wednesday that no decision had been made yet on whether to appeal the judge's ruling or ask for a reconsideration of the decision.