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

 

 

 

SPONSOR:

Romero

DATE TYPED:

2/22/03

 

HB

 

 

SHORT TITLE:

Instant Municipal Runoff Elections

 

SB

SJR 20

 

 

ANALYST:

Collard

 

APPROPRIATION

 

Appropriation Contained

Estimated Additional Impact

Recurring

or Non-Rec

Fund

Affected

FY03

FY04

FY03

FY04

 

 

 

 

 

See Narrative

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(Parenthesis ( ) Indicate Expenditure Decreases)

 

Conflicts with HJR 1 and HJR 11

 

SOURCES OF INFORMATION

 

Responses Received From

Secretary of State

 

SUMMARY

 

     Synopsis of Bill

 

Senate Joint Resolution 20 allows municipalities with a population greater than 60,000 to provide for instant runoff elections, as defined in Section 1 (C) by ordinance or by charter.  If instant runoff elections are adopted, the candidate that receives a majority of first-choice votes for an office shall be declared elected to that office.

 

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS

 

There is no appropriation associated with this bill; however, the Secretary of State anticipates a cost of $32.0 to make the changes for an instant runoff election to the ballots.  The Secretary of State also notes voting systems will have to be purchased if instant runoff elections are adopted by municipalities.

 

ADMINISTRATIVE IMPLICATIONS

 

The Secretary of State anticipates minimal administrative implications to change the ballot; however, intensive voter education will need to be administered if instant runoff elections are adopted by the municipalities.

 

CONFLICT

 

Senate Joint Resolution 20 conflicts with House Joint Resolution which would allow instant runoff elections for municipalities with a population over 20,000, as determined by the census, and only allow municipalities to have instant runoff elections if they amend their charter pursuant to Article 10, Section 6 of the Constitution of New Mexico to allow it.  House Joint Resolution 1 also does not provide a definition of instant runoff elections. 

 

Senate Joint Resolution 20 also conflicts with House Joint Resolution 11 which allows instant runoff elections for all elections, except municipal or primary elections, for municipalities that have not adopted a charter pursuant to Article 10, Section 6 of the Constitution of New Mexico, for municipalities who have adopted the charter prior to this amendment, and for municipalities who have adopted the charter after this amendment, as long as it is adopted by a majority vote in the next municipal election.  House Joint Resolution 11 also does not provide a definition of instant runoff elections.

 

KBC/njw