[1] NOTE:  As provided in LFC policy, this report is intended for use by the stand­ing finance committees of the legislature.  The Legislative Finance Committee does not assume responsibili­ty for the accuracy of the information in this report when used in any other situation.

 

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F I S C A L   I M P A C T   R E P O R T

 

 

 

SPONSOR:

Thompson

 

DATE TYPED:

01/21/02

 

HB

9

 

SHORT TITLE:

Voter Identification

 

SB

 

 

 

ANALYST:

Woodlee

 

 

APPROPRIATION

 

Appropriation Contained

Estimated Additional Impact

Recurring

or Non-Rec

Fund

Affected

FY02

FY03

FY02

FY03

 

 

 

NFI

 

 

 

 

 

SOURCES OF INFORMATION

 

Secretary of State

 

SUMMARY

 

     Synopsis of Bill

 

House Bill 9 proposes to amend Section 1-12-10 NMSA 1978 to require voters to present one of the following forms of identification:

 

•                            New Mexico voter registration card;

•                            Social Security card;

•                            Valid New Mexico driver’s license;

•                            Any other identification card issued by an agency of the state, its subdivision, or the United States; or

•                            Any valid employee identification card containing a photograph of the employee, issued by an employer for ordinary course of the employer’s business.

 

In addition, the bill provides that if the voter is unable to present such identification, then he/she shall be allowed to vote after executing a statement swearing or affirming that he or she is the named registered voter.  Knowingly providing a false statement in such a case constitutes perjury as provided in Section 30-25-1 NMSA 1978 and voting on the basis of this statements constitutes false voting as provided in Section 1-20-8 NMSA 1978.

 

     Significant Issues

 

The Secretary of State indicates that the bill only provides for identification to be shown at polling stations and does not included absentee voting.  Absentee voting does not require any person-to-person contact and therefore no identification could be provided, possibly creating two unequal standards. 

 

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS

 

There are no appropriations or significant fiscal implications associated with this bill.

 

ADMINISTRATIVE IMPLICATIONS

 

It is possible the voting process could be slightly delayed because of the added task of verifying identification cards.

 

TECHNICAL ISSUES

 

The Secretary of State indicates that Page 2, Line 1 should be amended to read, “a New Mexico voter identification card” because the registration card remains in the possession of the county clerk and the voter receives a voter identification card. 

 

MW/ar

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