AN ACT

RELATING TO ELECTIONS; PROVIDING DEFINITIONS; PRESCRIBING DUTIES AND TRAINING PROCEDURES; UPDATING LANGUAGE IN ARTICLES 4, 5 AND 12 OF THE ELECTION CODE; REQUIRING CERTIFICATION OF PRESIDING JUDGES; SPECIFYING HOW PRECINCTS MAY BE FORMED AND DESIGNATED; PROVIDING FOR COUNTY CANVASS OBSERVERS; CHANGING FILING DATES FOR INDEPENDENT AND WRITE-IN CANDIDATES; CHANGING REGISTRATION PROCEDURES; REQUIRING REGISTRATION OF THIRD-PARTY REGISTRATION ORGANIZATIONS; PROVIDING FOR EARLY PROCESSING OF ABSENTEE BALLOTS; PROVIDING FOR ABSENTEE VOTING PROCEDURES; REQUIRING A PAPER RECORD OF VOTES; REQUIRING VOTER IDENTIFICATION FOR IN-PERSON AND ABSENTEE VOTING; PRESCRIBING POLL WORKER DUTIES ON ELECTION DAY; REQUIRING STANDARDS FOR COUNTING PROVISIONAL BALLOTS; CHANGING PROVISIONS FOR POLLWATCHERS; PROVIDING FOR DEPOSITS ON RECOUNTS AND RECHECKS; PROVIDING FOR AUTOMATIC AUDITS AND RECOUNTS; PROVIDING PENALTIES; RECONCILING MULTIPLE AMENDMENTS TO THE SAME SECTION OF LAW; AMENDING, REPEALING, ENACTING AND RECOMPILING SECTIONS OF THE NMSA 1978.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO:

     Section 1. A new section of Chapter 1, Article 1 NMSA 1978 is enacted to read:

     "COMPUTATION OF TIME--DEADLINES.--For the purpose of the Election Code, time periods of less than eleven days shall be computed as calendar days; provided, however, that if an actual deadline falls on a weekend or state-recognized holiday, the next business day shall be the deadline."

     Section 2. A new section of Chapter 1, Article 1 NMSA 1978 is enacted to read:

     "NEW REGISTRANT.--As used in the Election Code, "new registrant" means a person who was not registered to vote in the state at the time the person registered to vote."

     Section 3. A new section of Chapter 1, Article 1 NMSA 1978 is enacted to read:

     "REGISTRATION AGENT.--As used in the Election Code, "registration agent" means a state or federal employee who provides voter registration at a state agency, or a tribal registration agent office, or any other individual who assists another person in completion of a voter registration application."

     Section 4. Section 1-1-16 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 1969, Chapter 240, Section 16, as amended) is amended to read:

     "1-1-16. REGISTRATION OFFICER.--As used in the Election Code, "registration officer" means the secretary of state, a county clerk or a clerk's authorized deputy, a member of the board of registration or a state employee performing registration duties in accordance with the federal National Voter Registration Act of 1993 or Section 1-4-5.2 NMSA 1978."

     Section 5. A new section of Chapter 1, Article 1 NMSA 1978 is enacted to read:

     "UNIQUE IDENTIFIER.--As used in the Election Code, "unique identifier" means the last four digits of a voter's social security number."

     Section 6. A new section of Chapter 1, Article 1 NMSA 1978 is enacted to read:

     "REQUIRED VOTER IDENTIFICATION.--As used in the Election Code, "required voter identification" means any of the following forms of identification as chosen by the voter:

          A. a physical form of identification, which may be:

                (1) an original or copy of a current and valid photo identification with or without an address, which address is not required to match the voter's certificate of registration or a voter identification card; or

                (2) an original or copy of a utility bill, bank statement, government check, paycheck, student identification card or other government document, including identification issued by an Indian nation, tribe or pueblo, that shows the name and address of the person, the address of which is not required to match the voter's certificate of registration; or

          B. a verbal or written statement by the voter of the voter's name, year of birth and unique identifier; provided, however, that the statement of the voter's name need not contain the voter's middle initial or suffix."

     Section 7. A new section of Chapter 1, Article 1 NMSA 1978 is enacted to read:

     "VOTER IDENTIFICATION CARD.--As used in the Election Code, "voter identification card" means a document containing the person's name, address and precinct number that is issued by the county clerk or the voter's copy of the voter's certificate of registration."

     Section 8. Section 1-1-6 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 1977, Chapter 222, Section 1) is amended to read:

     "1-1-6. RECHECK AND RECOUNT.--As used in the Election Code:

          A. "recheck" pertains to electronic voting systems and means a verification procedure where a printout of the electronic record of votes cast in an election is made from each electronic memory device in the electronic voting system and the results are compared with the results shown on the official returns; and

          B. "recount" pertains to emergency paper ballots, absentee ballots, provisional paper ballots, optical scan paper ballots, voter verifiable and auditable paper ballots printed by electronic voting systems and any other paper ballot and means a verification procedure whereby the voters' selections on the paper ballots may be counted by hand and the results compared with the results shown on the official returns."

     Section 9. A new section of the Election Code is enacted to read:

     "VOTER IDENTIFICATION CARDS--DISTRIBUTION.--

          A. Between sixty and forty days before each primary election, the county clerk shall send to each registered voter in the county a voter identification card indicating the voter's name, address and voting precinct; provided, however, that a registrant shall still be sent a voter identification card upon filing of the registrant's certificate of registration with the county clerk as provided in Section 1-4-12 NMSA 1978.

          B. The county clerk may apply to the office of the secretary of state for reimbursement of costs related to supplying voter identification cards.

          C. The secretary of state shall promulgate rules to ensure that all registered voters receive a voter identification card before each primary election and reimburse the county for the costs of supplying and distributing the cards."

     Section 10. Section 1-2-2 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 1969, Chapter 240, Section 23, as amended) is amended to read:

     "1-2-2. SECRETARY OF STATE--GENERAL DUTIES.--The secretary of state shall:

          A. generally supervise all elections;

          B. administer the Election Code in its statewide application especially as it relates to federal and state elective offices;

          C. prepare instructions for the conduct of election and registration matters in accordance with the laws of the state;

          D. advise county clerks, boards of county commissioners and boards of registration as to the proper methods of performing their duties prescribed by the Election Code;

          E. report possible violations of the Election Code of which the secretary of state has knowledge to the district attorney or the attorney general for prosecution;

          F. cause to be published in pamphlet form and distributed to the county clerk of each county for use by precinct boards a sufficient number of copies of the Election Code as it is from time to time amended and supplemented;

          G. be responsible for the education and training of county clerks regarding elections;

          H. be responsible for the education and training of voting machine technicians; and

          I. assist the county clerks in the education and training of registration officers, in the recruitment and training of poll workers and other election workers and in the certification of the presiding judges of the precinct boards."

     Section 11. Section 1-2-4 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 1969, Chapter 240, Section 25, as amended) is amended to read:

     "1-2-4. SECRETARY OF STATE--TRAINING AND INSTRUCTIONS TO PRECINCT BOARDS--TRAINING MANUAL.--

          A. The secretary of state shall provide:                        (1) instructions for the precinct board, which shall include a brief nontechnical explanation of their duties as required by the Election Code; and

                (2) a single training manual containing standard guidelines for the operations and processes of statewide elections, including pre-election day activities, election-day activities and post-election-day activities and county and state canvassing processes.

          B. When any specific duty is imposed by the instructions issued under the Election Code, the duty shall be deemed to be a requirement of the law."

     Section 12. Section 1-2-7 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 1969, Chapter 240, Section 29, as amended) is amended to read:

     "1-2-7. PRECINCT BOARD--QUALIFICATION OF MEMBERS--QUALIFICATION OF PRESIDING JUDGES.--

          A. In order to qualify as a member of the precinct board, a person shall:

                (1) be a resident of the representative district and county in which the precinct where he is a voter is located;

                (2) be able to read and write;

                (3) have the necessary capacity to carry out his functions with acceptable skill and dispatch; and

                (4) execute the precinct board member's oath of office.

          B. Before serving as a presiding judge of a precinct board, a person shall receive training in the duties of that position and be certified for the position by the county clerk.

          C. No person shall be qualified for appointment or service on a precinct board:

                (1) who is a candidate for any federal, state, district or county office;

                (2) who is a spouse, parent, child, brother or sister of any candidate to be voted for at the election; or

                (3) who is a sheriff, deputy sheriff, marshal, deputy marshal or state or municipal policeman."

     Section 13. Section 1-2-17 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 1969, Chapter 240, Section 37, as amended) is amended to read:

     "1-2-17. PRECINCT BOARD--SCHOOLS OF INSTRUCTION.--

          A. The secretary of state may supervise and the county clerk shall cause to be held a public school of instruction for all presiding judges, precinct boards and others who will be officially concerned with the conduct of elections.

          B. The schools for instruction provided for in this section shall be as follows:

                (1) one school not less than seven days before the primary election;

                (2) one school not less than seven days before the general election; and

                (3) one school not less than seven days before any other statewide election.

          C. All major details of the conduct of elections shall be covered by the secretary of state or the secretary's authorized representative or the county clerk or the clerk's authorized representative at such school, with special emphasis being given to recent changes in the Election Code.

          D. The school of instruction shall be open to any interested person, and notice of the school shall be given to the public press at least four days before the school is to be held. Each member of the precinct board shall be notified by mail at least seven days prior to commencement of the school.

          E. A person shall not serve as a judge or member of a precinct board in any election unless that person has attended at least one such school of instruction in the calendar year of the election at which the person is appointed to serve or has been certified by the county clerk with respect to the person's completion of the school of instruction. This subsection shall not apply to filling of vacancies on election day as provided in Subsection B of Section 1-2-15 NMSA 1978."

     Section 14. Section 1-2-27 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 1969, Chapter 240, Section 46, as amended) is amended to read:

     "1-2-27. WATCHERS--APPOINTMENT.--

          A. The county chairman of each political party represented on the ballot may appoint in writing two watchers for each precinct. If any county chairman fails to make the appointments, the precinct chairman of the political party may appoint in writing two watchers for the precinct. If any precinct chairman fails to make the appointments, or if no person properly appointed is present at the polling place and offers to serve, the voters present belonging to that political party may appoint in writing two watchers.

          B. In a general election, a candidate for elected office and an election-related organization may appoint one watcher per polling place if the candidate or organization makes a written request to the secretary of state at least ten days prior to the election date and specifies the polling place to be watched and the name of the qualified appointee. The secretary of state shall notify the county clerk of the qualified appointees at least five days before the election. For the purposes of this section, "election-related organization" means an organization involved in voter turnout activities.

          C. In a primary election any group of six candidates for county office for each political party participating in the election may appoint in writing an additional watcher for each precinct. No candidate, however, shall join in more than one request for an additional watcher.

          D. In a primary election any group of three candidates seeking nomination for statewide or district office may appoint in writing one watcher for each of those precincts as they may desire. No candidate, however, shall join in more than one request for an additional watcher at any precinct."

     Section 15. A new section of Chapter 1, Article 2 NMSA 1978 is enacted to read:

     "COUNTY CANVASS OBSERVERS.--

          A. A candidate for elected office and an election-related organization may each appoint one county canvass observer per county if the candidate or organization makes a written request to the secretary of state or county clerk at least ten days prior to the election date and specifies the county canvass to be watched and the name of the qualified appointee. A county chair of a qualified political party may appoint as many observers as the chief election officer for that county determines is functional; provided that the state or county chair may appoint at least three observers and that the number of observers for each major political party is identical.

          B. County canvass observers shall be voters of a precinct located in that county to which they are appointed. No sheriff, deputy sheriff, marshal, deputy marshal, municipal or state police officer, candidate or person who is a spouse, parent or child of a candidate being voted on at the election shall serve as a county canvass observer.

          C. The county canvass observer, upon presentation of the observer's written appointment to the county clerk, shall be permitted to be present from the time the county canvassing begins until the completion of the canvass.

          D. Only one county canvass observer for each candidate and each election-related organization in each county shall be permitted at one time in the room in which the canvass is being conducted. An observer is strictly limited to observing and documenting the canvassing process, and may not interrupt the canvassing process.

          E. County canvass observers shall not interfere with the orderly conduct of the canvass, and may be removed by the chief election officer if the observer does not comply with the law.

          F. As used in this section:

                (1) "county canvass" means the process of qualifying and verifying paper ballots and counting and tallying votes for each precinct beginning upon the closing of the polls and ending with the certification and announcement of the results by the county canvassing board; and

                (2) "election-related organization" means an organization involved in voter turnout activities."

     Section 16. Section 1-3-12 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 1984 (1st S.S.), Chapter 3, Section 4, as amended) is amended to read:

     "1-3-12. ADJUSTING PRECINCT BOUNDARIES.--

          A. Before each federal decennial census, every precinct boundary shall be adjusted to coincide with a numbered or named street or road or with a visible terrain feature that is:

                (1) shown on the standard base maps developed pursuant to Subsection B of this section;

                (2) a designated census block boundary on the federal PL 94-171 2000 census block maps; or

                (3) approved by the secretary of state and the bureau of the census.

          B. Prior to commencement of the federal decennial census, the secretary of state shall have prepared and furnish to each county clerk standard base maps of the county. The standard base map for nonurban areas of the county shall, as nearly as practical, show:

                (1) all state and federal highways;

                (2) all numbered and named county roads that have been certified to the department of transportation;

                (3) all military installation boundaries and federal and state prison boundaries;

                (4) all major railroad lines; and

                (5) other major terrain features such as flowing rivers and streams, arroyos, powerlines, pipelines and ridgelines and other acceptable census block boundaries.

          C. The board of county commissioners and the county clerks, upon receipt of the standard base maps from the secretary of state, shall:

                (1) adjust all urban precinct boundaries to coincide with numbered or named street boundaries;

                (2) adjust all nonurban precinct boundaries to coincide with suitable visible terrain features shown on the standard base map; provided that in order to make an adjustment, two or more existing precincts may be consolidated without consolidating existing polling places; and provided further that the precincts shall be composed of contiguous and compact areas, and state, county and municipal boundary lines may serve as precinct boundaries; and

                (3) upon the completion of the precinct boundary adjustments as required in this section, indicate on the standard base maps the boundaries for both urban and nonurban precincts and, together with a written description of the precincts, shall send four copies of the precinct maps to the secretary of state for approval.

          D. The precincts shown upon the standard base maps submitted pursuant to the provisions of this section and as revised and approved by the secretary of state pursuant to the Precinct Boundary Adjustment Act shall become the official precincts of each county for the 2001 redistricting. For the 2002 and subsequent primary and general elections, changes in precincts shall be made in accordance with the provisions of Chapter 1, Article 3 NMSA 1978.

          E. A county commission shall not split a precinct into two or more districts for any elected office.

          F. Precincts shall be designated solely by whole numbers."

     Section 17. A new section of Chapter 1, Article 4 NMSA 1978 is enacted to read:

     "THIRD-PARTY REGISTRATION AGENTS--REGISTRATION

REQUIRED--PROCEDURES--REPORTS--PENALTY.--

          A. Registration agents who either register or assist persons to register to vote on behalf of an organization that is not a state or federal agency shall register with the secretary of state and the organization shall provide the secretary of state with:

                (1) the name and permanent address of the organization;

                (2) the names, permanent addresses, temporary addresses, if any, dates of birth and social security numbers of each person registering persons to vote in the state on behalf of the organization; and

                (3) a sworn statement from each registration agent employed by or volunteering for the organization stating that the agent will obey all state laws and rules regarding the registration of voters on a form that gives notice of the criminal penalties for false registration.

          B. Organizations employing registration agents or using volunteer registration agents shall deliver a certificate of registration to the secretary of state or county clerk within forty-eight hours of its completion by the person registering to vote or the next business day if the appropriate office is closed for that forty-eight-hour period.

          C. The secretary of state may issue rules to ensure the integrity of the registration process, including rules requiring that organizations account for all registration forms used by their registration agents.

          D. A person who willfully violates the provisions of this section is guilty of a petty misdemeanor and shall have his third-party registration agent status revoked."

     Section 18. A new section of Chapter 1, Article 4 NMSA 1978 is enacted to read:

     "REGISTRATION--LACK OF PHYSICAL ADDRESS.--If a qualified elector resides in an area lacking a specific physical address, the qualified elector shall be allowed to substitute a map or give a description and, if available, a mailing address, indicating where the qualified elector resides for a physical address and register to vote. The voter shall be assigned to a precinct based on the geographic description of where the voter resides."

     Section 19. Section 1-4-5 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 1969, Chapter 240, Section 63, as amended) is amended to read:

     "1-4-5. METHOD OF REGISTRATION--UNLAWFUL USE OF INFORMATION--PENALTY.--

          A. A qualified elector may apply to a registration officer or agent for registration.

          B. The registration officer or agent or qualified elector shall fill out each of the blanks on the certificate of registration by typing or printing in ink. The voter shall be given a receipt for the original, and the registration agent shall receive a copy that omits the voter's social security number and date of birth and which shall contain a number traceable to the registration agent or officer.

          C. The qualified elector shall subscribe a certificate of registration as follows:

                (1) by signing the certificate of registration using the qualified elector's given name, middle name or initial and last name; or

                (2) if any qualified elector seeking to register is unable to read and write either the English or Spanish language or is unable to read or write because of some physical disability, the certificate of such person shall be filled out by a registration officer or agent and the name of the qualified elector so registering shall be subscribed by the making of the qualified elector's mark.

          D. When properly executed by the registration agent or officer, or qualified elector, the original of the certificate of registration shall be presented, either in person or by mail by the qualified elector or by the registration agent or officer, to the county clerk of the county in which the qualified elector resides.

          E. Only when the certificate of registration is properly filled out, subscribed by the qualified elector and accepted for filing by the county clerk as evidenced by the county clerk's signature or stamp and the date of acceptance thereon shall it constitute an official public record of the registration of the qualified elector. It is unlawful for the voter's date of birth or any portion of the voter's social security number required on the certificate of registration to be copied, conveyed or used by anyone other than the person registering to vote, either before or after it is filed with the county clerk, except by elections administrators for purposes of the registration and voting process.

          F. A person who unlawfully copies, conveys or uses information from a certificate of registration is guilty of a fourth degree felony."

     Section 20. Section 1-4-5.1 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 1993, Chapter 314, Section 7 and Laws 1993, Chapter 316, Section 7, as amended) is amended to read:

     "1-4-5.1. METHOD OF REGISTRATION--FORM.--

          A. A qualified elector may apply for registration by mail, in the office of the secretary of state or county clerk or with a registration agent or officer.

          B. Certificate of registration forms may be requested from the secretary of state or any county clerk in person by telephone or by mail for oneself or for others.

          C. Except as provided in Subsection D of this section, a qualified elector who wishes to register to vote shall fill out completely and sign the certificate of registration. The qualified elector may seek the assistance of any person in completing the certificate of registration.

          D. A qualified elector who has filed for an order of protection pursuant to the provisions of the Family Violence Protection Act and who presents a copy of that order from a state or tribal court to the registration officer shall not be required to provide address information on the certificate of registration.

          E. Completed certificates of registration may be mailed or presented in person by the registrant or any other person to the secretary of state or presented in person by the registrant or any other person to the county clerk of the county in which the registrant resides.

          F. If the registrant wishes to vote in the next election, the completed and signed certificate of registration shall be delivered or mailed and postmarked at least twenty-eight days before the election.

          G. Upon receipt of a certificate of registration, the secretary of state shall send the certificate to the county clerk in the county where the qualified elector resides.

          H. Only when the certificate of registration is properly filled out, signed by the qualified elector and accepted for filing by the county clerk as evidenced by the county clerk's signature or stamp and the date of acceptance thereon and when notice has been received by the registrant shall it constitute an official public record of the registration of the qualified elector.

          I. The secretary of state shall prescribe the form of the certificate of registration, which form shall be a postpaid mail-in format and shall be printed in Spanish and English. The certificate of registration form shall be clear and understandable to the average person and shall include brief but sufficient instructions to enable the qualified elector to complete the form without assistance. The form shall also include:

                (1) the question "Are you a citizen of the United States of America?" and boxes for the applicant to check to indicate whether the applicant is or is not a citizen;

                (2) the question "Will you be at least eighteen years of age on or before election day?" and boxes for the applicant to check to indicate whether the applicant will be eighteen years of age or older on election day;

                (3) the statement "If you checked 'no' in response to either of these questions, do not complete this form.";

                (4) a statement informing the applicant that:

                     (a) if the form is submitted by mail by the applicant and the applicant is registering for the first time in New Mexico, the applicant must submit with the form a copy of: 1) a current and valid photo identification or voter identification card; or 2) a utility bill, bank statement, government check, paycheck, student identification card or other government document, including identification issued by an Indian nation, tribe or pueblo, that shows the name and address of the applicant; and

                     (b) if the applicant does not submit the required identification, he will be required to do so when voting in person or absentee; and

                (5) a statement requiring the applicant to swear or affirm that the information supplied by the applicant is true."

     Section 21. Section 1-4-8 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 1969, Chapter 240, Section 66, as amended) is amended to read:

     "1-4-8. DUTIES OF COUNTY CLERK--ACCEPTANCE OF REGISTRATION--CLOSE OF REGISTRATION--FEDERAL QUALIFIED ELECTORS AND OVERSEAS VOTERS--LATE REGISTRATION.--

          A. For qualified electors other than federal qualified electors or overseas voters, the following provisions shall apply:

                (1) the county clerk shall receive certificates of registration at all times during normal working hours, except that the clerk shall close registration at 5:00 p.m. on the twenty-eighth day immediately preceding any election at which the registration books are to be furnished to the precinct board;

                (2) registration shall be reopened on the Monday following the election;

                (3) for purposes of a municipal or school election, the registration period for those precincts within the municipality or school district is closed at 5:00 p.m. on the twenty-eighth day immediately preceding the municipal or school election and is opened again on the Monday following the election;

                (4) during the period when registration is closed, the county clerk shall receive certificates of registration and other documents pertaining thereto but shall not file the certificate of registration in the registration book until the Monday following the election, at which time a voter identification card shall be mailed to the registrant at the address shown on the certificate of registration;

                (5) when the twenty-eighth day prior to any election referred to in this section is a Saturday, Sunday or legal holiday, registration shall be closed at 5:00 p.m. of the next succeeding regular business day for the office of the county clerk; and

                (6) the county clerk shall accept for filing any certificate of registration that is subscribed and dated on or before the twenty-eighth day preceding the election and received by the county clerk before 5:00 p.m. on the Friday immediately following the close of registration. The county clerk shall accept for filing any mailed certificate of registration postmarked not less than twenty-eight days prior to any election referred to in this section and received by 5:00 p.m. on the Friday immediately following the close of registration. The county clerk shall accept for filing any certificate of registration accepted at a state agency designated pursuant to Section 1-4-5.2 NMSA 1978 not later than twenty-eight days prior to any election.

          B. For federal qualified electors and overseas voters, the county clerk shall accept a certificate of registration by electronic transmission from a voter qualified to apply for and vote by absentee ballot in the county if the transmission is received before 5:00 p.m. on the Friday immediately preceding the election."

     Section 22. Section 1-4-23 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 1969, Chapter 240, Section 79, as amended) is amended to read:

     "1-4-23. REVIEW OF REGISTRATION--BOARD OF REGISTRATION--INACTIVE VOTER LIST CREATION.--Beginning on the third Monday of March of each odd-numbered year, the board of registration shall review all certificates of registration and, based on that review, shall establish a list of inactive voters in accordance with the provisions of the federal National Voter Registration Act of 1993. The secretary of state shall issue rules on list maintenance in accordance with the provisions of the federal National Voter Registration Act of 1993."

     Section 23. Section 1-5-1 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 1969, Chapter 240, Section 103, as amended) is amended to read:

     "1-5-1. SHORT TITLE.--Sections 1-5-1 through 1-5-29 NMSA 1978 may be cited as the "Voter Records System Act"."

     Section 24. Section 1-5-2 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 1969, Chapter 240, Section 104, as amended) is amended to read:

     "1-5-2. DEFINITIONS.--As used in the Election Code:

          A. "county" means any county in this state;

          B. "county register" means an official file of original certificates of registration of the county or any of its precincts;

          C. "county voter list" means a voter list arranged in alphabetical order of voter surname within and for each county;

          D. "data processor" means a data processing facility and its associated employees and agents contracted to provide data processing services required by the Voter Records System Act;

          E. "data recording media" means a manual, electronic or other device containing data capable of being read and processed by any means for the eventual preparation of voter lists;

          F. "election campaign purposes" means relating in any way to a campaign in an election conducted by a federal, state or local government;

          G. "file maintenance list" means any prepared listing that reflects additions, deletions or changes to the voter file;

          H. "governmental purposes" means noncommercial purposes relating in any way to the structure, operation or decision-making of a federal, state or local government;

          I. "mailing labels" mean prepared mailing labels of selected voters arranged in the order in which requested and providing only the name and address of the voter;

          J. "precinct voter list" means a voter list arranged in alphabetical order of voter surname within and for each precinct;

          K. "signature roster" means a copy of a voter list with space provided opposite each voter's name for the voter's signature or witnessed mark;

          L. "special voter list" means a prepared list of selected voters arranged in the order in which requested;

          M. "voter data" means selected information derived from the voter file;

          N. "voter file" means all voter registration information required by law and by the secretary of state that has been extracted from the certificate of registration of each voter in the county, stored on data recording media and certified by the county clerk as the source of all information required by the Voter Records System Act; and

          O. "voter list" means any prepared list of voters."

     Section 25. Section 1-5-3 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 1969, Chapter 240, Section 105, as amended by Laws 1993, Chapter 314, Section 33 and also by Laws 1993, Chapter 316, Section 33) is amended to read:

     "1-5-3. ACT IS MANDATORY AND SUPPLEMENTAL TO ELECTION CODE.--

          A. The Voter Records System Act is mandatory and supplemental to the provisions of the Election Code. The provisions of that act shall be implemented in all counties by order of the secretary of state in accordance with the provisions of the federal Help America Vote Act of 2002.

          B. The secretary of state shall maintain the official state voter file based on county registers and shall provide access to the file to the county clerks. The secretary of state shall prescribe any rules, forms and instructions necessary to implement procedures required by the Voter Records System Act and federal law. The secretary of state shall maintain a log, which shall be public, containing all transactions regarding requests for current registration lists of state voters. The log shall indicate the requesting party, the date of the request, the date of fulfilling the request, charges made and any other information deemed advisable by the secretary of state. Requests for registration lists in printed or electronic form shall be fulfilled within a period of ten working days.

          C. All registration records required by the Election Code shall be maintained for each of the precincts in addition to those records required by the Voter Records System Act and federal law."

     Section 26. Section 1-5-6 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 1969, Chapter 240, Section 108, as amended) is amended to read:

     "1-5-6. PRECINCT VOTER LISTS--SIGNATURE ROSTER PREPARATION.--The county clerk shall provide for preparation of precinct voter lists and signature rosters generated from the official state voter file for any precincts. The precinct voter lists and signature rosters shall be used at any election for which registration of voters is required in lieu of bound original certificates of registration and poll books."

     Section 27. Section 1-5-7 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 1969, Chapter 240, Section 109, as amended) is amended to read:

     "1-5-7. PRECINCT VOTER LISTS--SIGNATURE ROSTERS--CONTENTS.--

          A. The precinct voter lists and signature rosters for any precinct shall contain for each voter, as shown in the county register, the voter's:

                (1) name;

                (2) gender;

                (3) place of residence;

                (4) last four digits of the voter's social security number;

                (5) year of birth;

                (6) party affiliation, if any; and

                (7) precinct of residence.

          B. In addition, the names on each precinct voter list and signature roster shall be numbered consecutively beginning with the number "1".

          C. On each page of each precinct voter list and on each signature roster there shall be printed the page number and the date and name of the election for which they are to be used."

     Section 28. Section 1-5-8 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 1969, Chapter 240, Section 110, as amended) is amended to read:

     "1-5-8. PRECINCT VOTER LISTS--SIGNATURE ROSTERS--NUMBER--DISTRIBUTION.--

          A. One copy of the signature roster shall be prepared for each precinct. On the cover of the signature roster shall be printed the words, "Copy for the County Clerk". Upon its preparation and certification as to its accuracy and completeness, the county clerk shall deliver the copy of the signature roster to the precinct board.

          B. The county clerk shall prepare three copies of the precinct voter list for each precinct. Of the three copies prepared, one copy shall not include voter social security numbers. The other two shall contain only the last four digits of the voter's social security number. The county clerk shall deliver two of the copies to each precinct board. One copy of the precinct voter list shall be retained by the county clerk for verification purposes on election day and one copy for the secretary of state shall be marked to verify those voters on the list who voted.

          C. Two copies of the county voter list, arranged in alphabetical order, shall be prepared for election day for verification purposes only."

     Section 29. Section 1-5-14 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 1969, Chapter 240, Section 118, as amended) is amended to read:

     "1-5-14. FILE MAINTENANCE LISTS.--

          A. At least once a month, the county clerk shall have made from the state voter file a file maintenance list of additions, deletions and changes, if any, to the county register.

          B. One copy of the list shall be stored by the county clerk for at least one year.

          C. The county clerk shall also furnish copies of the list to the county chairman of each of the major political parties in the county. The copy of the chairman's list shall indicate whether each item is an addition, deletion or change. The file maintenance list shall not include the voter's social security number, codes used to identify the agency where the voter registered, the voter's day and month of birth or the voter's telephone number, if prohibited by the voter."

     Section 30. Section 1-5-17 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 1969, Chapter 240, Section 122, as amended) is amended to read:

     "1-5-17. VOTER REGISTRATION SYSTEM SOFTWARE--INSTRUCTIONS--STATUS--PROTECTION.--

          A. Voter registration system software and instructions for its use in controlling the processing of information derived from the voter file shall be verified functionally, identified and approved by the secretary of state.

          B. Verified, identified and approved voter registration system software and instructions shall be safeguarded at all times against loss or damage. The designated data processor shall be in charge of these safeguards subject to approval by the secretary of state."

     Section 31. Section 1-5-18 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 1969, Chapter 240, Section 124, as amended) is amended to read:

     "1-5-18. LIST AND ROSTER PREPARATION--COMPATIBLE DUPLICATE MEANS.--

          A. The secretary of state shall provide to the county clerk means for the preparation of voter lists and signature rosters.

          B. At least one compatible duplicate means shall be provided for on a standby basis, and it shall be capable of performing the preparation of voter lists and signature rosters with minimum delay in case the original means is unable to perform.

          C. The secretary of state shall procure and preserve sufficient duplicate voter registration system software and operating instructions so that in case of disaster the duplicate master record and the duplicate voter registration system software and operating instructions will be all that will be required for another compatible facility to prepare registered voter lists and signature rosters with minimum delay."

     Section 32. Section 1-5-21 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 1975, Chapter 255, Section 75, as amended) is amended to read:

     "1-5-21. DATA PROCESSOR--CUSTODY AND PROTECTION OF VOTER FILE--DELIVERY OF VOTER FILE AND PROGRAM RECORDS.--

          A. The designated data processor shall provide the secretary of state, county clerk or county with data processing services in the implementation and maintenance of the Voter Records System Act and in carrying out such other services as are reasonably related to providing data processing of the voter records system.

          B. The designated data processor shall preserve and safeguard voter files and voter registration system software from loss, damage, unauthorized alteration, unauthorized access and unauthorized reproduction and shall ensure their continued use and accessibility while they are in the data processor's custody.

          C. No copies of the voter file or information or listings derived therefrom shall be furnished by the data processor to any person other than the secretary of state, the county clerk or their designated agents."

     Section 33. Section 1-5-22 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 1975, Chapter 255, Section 76) is amended to read:

     "1-5-22. UNLAWFUL DISPOSITION OF VOTER FILE--PENALTY.--

          A. Unlawful disposition of voter file consists of the willful selling, loaning, providing access to or otherwise surrendering of the voter file, duplicates of the file or a part of the file by a data processor; a data processor's agent or employee; a state or county officer; or a state or county officer's deputy, assistant, employee or agent to anyone not authorized by the Voter Records System Act to have possession of the file.

          B. For purposes of this section, a file maintenance list shall be considered a voter file or a part of a voter file.

          C. Any data processor, officer, deputy, assistant, agent or employee who commits unlawful disposition of a voter file is guilty of a fourth degree felony."

     Section 34. Section 1-5-23 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 1975, Chapter 255, Section 77) is amended to read:

     "1-5-23. UNLAWFUL DESTRUCTION OR ALTERATION OF DATA RECORDING MEDIA, VOTER FILES, FILE MAINTENANCE LISTS, VOTER REGISTRATION SYSTEM SOFTWARE AND INSTRUCTIONS OR VOTER

LISTS--PENALTY.--

          A. Unlawful destruction or alteration of data recording media, voter files, file maintenance lists, voter registration system software and instructions or voter lists consists of the unauthorized destruction of, the unauthorized alteration of, the erasure of information from or the rendering unusable for their lawfully intended purpose of such media, files, software, instructions and lists or parts thereof by any person.

          B. Any person who commits unlawful destruction or alteration of data recording media, voter files, file maintenance lists, voter registration system software and instructions or voter lists is guilty of a fourth degree felony."

     Section 35. Section 1-5-24 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 1975, Chapter 255, Section 78, as amended) is amended to read:

     "1-5-24. REQUESTS FOR VOTER DATA, MAILING LABELS OR SPECIAL VOTER LISTS.--

          A. The county clerk or secretary of state shall furnish voter data, mailing labels or special voter lists only upon written request to the county clerk or the secretary of state and after compliance with the requirements of this section; provided, however, all requesters shall be treated equally in regard to the charges and the furnishing of the materials.

          B. In furnishing voter data, mailing labels or special voter lists, the county clerk or secretary of state shall not provide data or lists that include voters' social security numbers, codes used to identify agencies where voters have registered, a voter's day and month of birth or voters' telephone numbers if prohibited by voters.

          C. Each requester of voter data, mailing labels or special voter lists shall sign an affidavit that the voter data, mailing labels and special voter lists shall be used for governmental or election and election campaign purposes only and shall not be made available or used for unlawful purposes.

          D. The secretary of state shall prescribe the form of the affidavit."

     Section 36. Section 1-5-25 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 1975, Chapter 255, Section 79, as amended) is amended to read:

     "1-5-25. UNLAWFUL USE OF VOTER DATA, MAILING LABELS OR SPECIAL VOTER LISTS--PENALTIES.--

          A. Unlawful use of voter data, mailing labels or special voter lists consists of the knowing and willful use of such information for purposes prohibited by the Voter Records System Act.

          B. Any person, organization or corporation or agent, officer, representative or employee thereof who commits unlawful use of voter data, mailing labels or special voter lists is guilty of a fourth degree felony and upon conviction shall be fined one hundred dollars ($100) for each and every line of voter information that was unlawfully used.

          C. Each and every unlawful use of voter data, mailing labels or special voter lists constitutes a separate offense."

     Section 37. Section 1-5-26 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 1975, Chapter 255, Section 80) is amended to read:

     "1-5-26. CONTRACTUAL AGREEMENT REQUIRED WITH DATA PROCESSOR.--The secretary of state shall enter into a written contractual agreement with the data processor notwithstanding the fact that the data processor may be a department of state government."

     Section 38. Section 1-5-30 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 1989, Chapter 298, Section 1) is amended to read:

     "1-5-30. SECRETARY OF STATE--ESTABLISHMENT OF STATEWIDE COMPUTERIZED VOTER REGISTRATION SYSTEM.--

          A. The secretary of state shall develop, implement, establish and supervise a statewide computerized voter registration system that complies with the federal Help America Vote Act of 2002 to facilitate voter registration and to provide a central database containing voter registration information for New Mexico.

          B. The statewide computerized voter registration system shall:

                (1) provide for the establishment and maintenance of a central database for all voter registration information;

                (2) permit the offices of all county clerks to add, modify and delete county information from the system to provide for accurate and up-to-date records;

                (3) permit the offices of the county clerks and the bureau of elections to have access to the central database for review and search capabilities;

                (4) provide security and protection for all information in the central database and monitor the central database to ensure the prevention of unauthorized entry;

                (5) provide procedures for entering data into the central database; and

                (6) provide a centralized system for each county to enter the precinct to which a voter should be assigned for voting purposes."

     Section 39. Section 1-5-31 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 1989, Chapter 298, Section 2) is amended to read:

     "1-5-31. UNIFORM PROCEDURES FOR COUNTIES.--The secretary of state shall:

          A. assist county clerks by devising uniform procedures and forms that are compatible with the statewide computerized voter registration system;

          B. provide to each county clerk the computer software necessary for the use and maintenance of the statewide computerized voter registration system; and

          C. adopt such rules and regulations as are necessary to establish and administer the statewide computerized voter registration system and to require deadlines and time limits for the updating of voter files."

     Section 40. A new section of Chapter 1, Article 6 NMSA 1978 is enacted to read:

     "EARLY VOTING--USE OF ABSENTEE VOTING PROCEDURES--ALTERNATE VOTING LOCATIONS.--

          A. Commencing on the third Saturday prior to an election, an early voter may vote in person on a voting system at an alternate voting location established by the county clerk. In class A counties with more than two hundred thousand registered voters, the county clerk shall establish not less than twelve alternate voting locations as a convenience to the voters. For class A counties with two hundred thousand registered voters or fewer, the county clerk shall establish not less than four alternate voting locations. In non-class A counties with more than ten thousand registered voters, the county clerk shall establish at least one alternate voting location. In non-class A counties with ten thousand registered voters or fewer, early voting shall be conducted in the office of the county clerk or at such alternative locations as may be designated by the county clerk. Early voting may be done at an alternate location from 12:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., Tuesday through Friday, and 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Saturday through the Saturday immediately prior to the election.

          B. When voting early, the voter shall provide the required voter identification to the county clerk or the clerk's authorized representative. If the voter does not provide the required voter identification, the voter shall be allowed to vote on a provisional ballot. If the voter provides the required identification, the voter shall be allowed to vote after subscribing an application to vote in accordance with secretary of state rules. The county clerk or the clerk's authorized representative shall make an appropriate designation on the signature roster next to the voter's name indicating that the voter has voted early."

     Section 41. A new section of Chapter 1, Article 6 NMSA 1978 is enacted to read:

     "THIRD PARTY AGENTS COLLECTING ABSENTEE BALLOT APPLICATIONS.--

          A. A person or organization that is not part of a government agency and that collects absentee ballot applications shall submit the applications to the appropriate office for filing within forty-eight hours of their completion or the next business day if the appropriate office is closed for that forty-eight-hour period.

          B. The secretary of state shall establish procedures to ensure that absentee ballot applications collected in accordance with Subsection A of this section can be traced to the person and organization collecting the applications.

          C. A person who intentionally alters or fails to submit a completed absentee ballot application is guilty of a fourth degree felony."

     Section 42. Section 1-6-4 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 1969, Chapter 240, Section 130, as amended by Laws 2003, Chapter 356, Section 18 and by Laws 2003, Chapter 357, Section 1) is amended to read:

     "1-6-4. ABSENTEE BALLOT APPLICATION--FEDERAL QUALIFIED ELECTOR--OVERSEAS VOTER.--

          A. Application by a federal qualified elector or an overseas voter for an absentee ballot shall be made on the official postcard form prescribed or authorized by the federal government to the county clerk of the county of his residence. The form shall allow the applicant to receive an absentee ballot for all elections within an election cycle.

          B. Application by a voter for an absentee ballot shall be made only on a form prescribed by the secretary of state in accordance with federal law. The form shall identify the applicant and contain information to establish his qualification for issuance of an absentee ballot under the Absent Voter Act; provided that on the application form for a general election ballot there shall be no box, space or place provided for designation of the voter's political party affiliation.

          C. Each application for an absentee ballot shall be subscribed by the applicant and shall require the applicant's printed name, year of birth and unique identifier to be supplied by the applicant, which shall constitute the required form of identification, except for new registrants that have registered by mail and at that time did not provide acceptable identification.

          D. An application for an absentee ballot by a federal qualified elector or an overseas voter shall be accepted at any time preceding the general election."

     Section 43. Section 1-6-5 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 1969, Chapter 240, Section 131, as amended by Laws 2003, Chapter 355, Section 4 and by Laws 2003, Chapter 356, Section 19 and also by Laws 2003, Chapter 357, Section 2) is amended to read:

     "1-6-5. PROCESSING APPLICATION--ISSUANCE OF BALLOT.--

          A. The county clerk shall mark each completed absentee ballot application with the date and time of receipt in the clerk's office and enter the required information in the absentee ballot register. The county clerk shall then determine if the applicant is a voter, an absent uniformed services voter or an overseas voter.

          B. If the applicant does not have a valid certificate of registration on file in the county and is not a federal qualified elector or if the applicant states that the applicant is a federal qualified elector but the application indicates the applicant is not a federal qualified elector, an absentee ballot shall not be issued and the county clerk shall mark the application "rejected" and file the application in a separate file from those accepted.

          C. The county clerk shall notify in writing each applicant of the fact of acceptance or rejection of the application and, if rejected, shall explain why the application was rejected.

          D. If the applicant has on file with the county a valid certificate of registration that indicates that the applicant is a voter who is a new registrant and who registered by mail without submitting the required voter identification, the county clerk shall notify the voter that the voter must submit with the absentee ballot the required physical form of identification. The county clerk shall note on the absentee ballot register and signature roster that the applicant's absentee ballot must be returned with the required identification.

          E. If the county clerk finds that the applicant is a voter other than a federal qualified elector or overseas voter, the county clerk shall mark the application "accepted" and, beginning twenty-eight days before the election, deliver an absentee ballot to the voter in the county clerk's office or mail to the applicant an absentee ballot and the required envelopes for use in returning the ballot. If the county clerk finds that the applicant is a federal qualified elector or overseas voter, the county clerk shall mark the application "accepted" and beginning forty-five days before the election, mail to the applicant an absentee ballot and the required envelopes for use in returning the ballot. Acceptance of an application of a federal qualified elector constitutes registration for the election in which the ballot is to be cast. Acceptance of an application from an overseas voter who is not an absent uniformed services voter constitutes a request for changing information on the certificate of registration of any such voter. An absent voter shall not be permitted to change party affiliation during those periods when change of party affiliation is prohibited by the Election Code. Upon delivery of an absentee ballot to a voter in the county clerk's office or mailing of an absentee ballot to an applicant who is a voter, an appropriate designation shall be made on the signature line of the signature roster next to the name of the voter who has been provided or mailed an absentee ballot.

          F. If an application for an absentee ballot is delivered in person to the county clerk and is accepted, the county clerk shall provide the voter an absentee ballot and it shall be marked by the applicant in a voting booth of a type prescribed by the secretary of state, sealed in the proper envelopes and otherwise properly executed and returned to the county clerk or his authorized representative before the voter leaves the office of the county clerk. The act of marking the absentee ballot in the office of the county clerk shall be a convenience to the voter in the delivery of the absentee ballot and does not make the office of the county clerk a polling place subject to the requirements of a polling place in the Election Code other than is provided in this subsection. It is unlawful to solicit votes, display or otherwise make accessible any posters, signs or other forms of campaign literature whatsoever in the clerk's office or alternate voting location. Absentee ballots may be marked in person at the county clerk's office during the regular hours and days of business beginning on the twenty-eighth day preceding the election and from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. on the Saturday immediately prior to the date of the election. In marking the absentee ballot, the voter, pursuant to the provisions of Section 1-12-15 NMSA 1978, may be assisted by one person of the voter's choice.

          G. Absentee ballots shall be airmailed or, if so requested, electronically transmitted to applicants temporarily domiciled inside or outside the continental limits of the United States not later than on the Friday immediately prior to the date of the election.

          H. An absentee ballot shall not be delivered or mailed by the county clerk to any person other than the applicant for such ballot.

          I. The secretary of state and each county clerk shall make reasonable efforts to publicize and inform voters of the times and locations for absentee voting; provided, however, that notice is provided at least ten days before early voting begins.

          J. The secretary of state shall establish procedures for the submittal, when required by federal law, of required voter identification with mailed-in absentee ballots."

     Section 44. Section 1-6-5.4 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 1999, Chapter 267, Section 3) is amended to read:

     "1-6-5.4. SECURITY--COUNTING AND CANVASSING.--

          A. The secretary of state shall adopt rules for protecting the integrity, security and secrecy of the absentee ballots; procedures for voting by absentee ballot; separation of absentee ballots voted on electronic voting machines twenty days before the election from those received through the mail; disposition of absentee ballots rejected by a voting machine; and handling of, registering, counting and canvassing of absentee ballots.

          B. As used in Chapter 1, Article 6 NMSA 1978, "registering of absentee ballots" means inserting the paper absentee ballot into an electronic voting system for recording and retention."

     Section 45. Section 1-6-5.6 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 2003, Chapter 357, Section 6) is amended to read:

     "1-6-5.6. EARLY VOTING--ALTERNATE VOTING PLACES--PROCEDURES.--The secretary of state shall adopt rules to:

          A. ensure that voters have adequate access to alternate locations for early voting in each county, taking into consideration population density and travel time to the place of voting;

          B. ensure that early voters are not allowed to vote in person on election day;

          C. ensure that adequate interpreters are available at alternative early voting locations in those precincts having a majority of qualified electors who are part of a recognized language minority; and

          D. allow for mobile alternate voting places in rural areas of the state."

     Section 46. Section 1-6-8 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 1969, Chapter 240, Section 134, as amended) is amended to read:

     "1-6-8. ABSENTEE BALLOT ENVELOPES.--

          A. The secretary of state shall prescribe the form of, procure and distribute to each county clerk a supply of:

                (1) official inner envelopes for use in sealing the completed absentee ballot;

                (2) official mailing envelopes for use in returning the official inner envelope to the county clerk; provided the official mailing envelope for absentee ballots in a general election shall contain no designation of party affiliation;

                (3) absentee ballot instructions, describing proper methods for completion of the ballot and returning it; and

                (4) official transmittal envelopes for use by the county clerk in mailing absentee ballot materials.

          B. Official transmittal envelopes and official mailing envelopes for transmission of absentee ballot materials to and from the county clerk and federal qualified electors shall be printed in red in the form prescribed by the federal Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act. Official transmittal envelopes and official mailing envelopes for transmission of absentee ballot materials to and from the county clerk and voters shall be printed in black in substantially similar form. All official inner envelopes shall be printed in black.

          C. The reverse of each official mailing envelope shall contain a form to be executed by the voter completing the absentee ballot. The form shall identify the voter and shall contain the following statement: "I will not vote in this election other than by the enclosed ballot. I will not receive or offer any compensation or reward for giving or withholding any vote.".

          D. The official mailing envelope shall contain a space for the voter to record the voter's unique identifier, year of birth and name. The envelope shall have a security flap to cover this information."

     Section 47. Section 1-6-9 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 1969, Chapter 240, Section 135, as amended) is amended to read:

     "1-6-9. MANNER OF VOTING.--

          A. A person voting pursuant to the Absent Voter Act shall secretly mark the absentee ballot in the manner provided in the Election Code for marking emergency paper ballots, place it in the official inner envelope and securely seal the envelope. The voter shall then place the official inner envelope inside the official mailing envelope and securely seal the envelope. The voter shall then complete the form on the reverse of the official mailing envelope, which shall include an affirmation by the voter under penalty of perjury that the facts stated in the form are true and the voter's name, year of birth and unique identifier.

          B. Federal qualified electors and overseas voters shall either deliver or mail the official mailing envelope or electronically transmit the absentee ballot to the county clerk of their county of residence or deliver it to a person designated by federal authority to receive executed ballots for transmission to the county clerk of the county of residence or former residence as the case may be. Voters shall either deliver or mail the official mailing envelope to the county clerk of their county of residence."

     Section 48. Section 1-6-10 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 1969, Chapter 240, Section 136, as amended) is amended to read:

     "1-6-10. RECEIPT OF ABSENTEE BALLOTS BY CLERK.--

          A. The county clerk shall mark on each completed official mailing envelope the date and time of receipt in the clerk's office, record this information in the absentee ballot register and safely keep the official mailing envelope unopened in a locked and number-sealed ballot box until it is delivered to the proper absent voter precinct board or until it is canceled and destroyed in accordance with law.

          B. The county clerk shall accept completed official mailing envelopes until 7:00 p.m. on election day and the absent voter precinct board shall accept completed official mailing envelopes from precincts within the county of the voters who turned in their absentee ballots at their precinct by the close of polls on election day. Any completed official mailing envelope received after that time shall not be delivered to a precinct board but shall be preserved by the county clerk until the time for election contests has expired. In the absence of a restraining order after expiration of the time for election contests, the county clerk shall destroy all late official mailing envelopes without opening or permitting the contents to be examined, cast, counted or canvassed. Before their destruction, the county clerk shall count the numbers of late ballots from voters, federal voters, overseas citizen voters and federal qualified electors and report the number from each category to the secretary of state.

          C. At 5:00 p.m. on the Monday immediately preceding the date of election, the county clerk shall record the numbers of the unused absentee ballots and shall publicly destroy in the county clerk's office all such unused ballots. The county clerk shall execute a certificate of destruction, which shall include the numbers on the absentee ballots destroyed. A copy of the certificate of destruction shall be sent to the secretary of state."

     Section 49. Section 1-6-10.1 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 2003, Chapter 357, Section 5) is amended to read:

     "1-6-10.1. ABSENTEE BALLOT--DELIVERY TO COUNTY CLERK.--A voter, caregiver to that voter or member of that voter's immediate family may deliver that voter's absentee ballot to the county clerk in person or by mail, provided that the voter has subscribed the outer envelope of the absentee ballot."

     Section 50. Section 1-6-11 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 1969, Chapter 240, Section 137, as amended) is amended to read:

     "1-6-11. DELIVERY OF ABSENTEE BALLOTS TO ABSENT VOTER PRECINCTS.--

          A. Beginning on the Thursday immediately preceding election day, the county clerk may deliver to the special deputy county clerk for delivery to the absent voter precinct board the absentee ballots received prior to the delivery day. The special deputy county clerk shall issue a receipt for all ballots delivered for the county clerk and shall observe the listing of the names on the official mailing envelopes in the signature rosters. The special deputy county clerk shall then obtain a receipt executed by the presiding judge and each election judge and shall return the receipt to the county clerk for filing. The receipts shall specify the number of envelopes received by the special deputy county clerk from the county clerk for the absent voter precinct and the number of envelopes received by the absent voter precinct board from the special deputy county clerk.

          B. On election day, the county clerk shall deliver all absentee ballots not yet delivered to the absent voter precinct board but received prior to 7:00 p.m. on election day to the special deputy county clerks for delivery to the absent voter precinct boards. The special deputy county clerk shall issue a receipt for all ballots delivered for the county clerk and shall observe the listing of the names on the official mailing envelope in the signature rosters. The special deputy county clerk shall then obtain a receipt executed by the presiding judge and each election judge and shall return the receipt to the county clerk for filing. The receipts shall specify the number of envelopes received by the special deputy county clerk from the county clerk for each absent voter precinct and the number of envelopes received by the absent voter precinct board from the special deputy county clerk.

          C. At 7:00 a.m. on the Thursday prior to election day or on the day the absent voter precinct board begins early processing of absentee ballots, the county clerk shall deliver the electronic voting machines used for absentee voting by mail to the absent voter precinct board. The machines shall not be used to vote on or count additional ballots for that election. A special deputy county clerk shall issue a receipt for each voting machine. Upon delivery of a voting machine, the special deputy shall:

                (1) obtain a receipt executed by the presiding judge and each election judge specifying the serial number and the seal number of the machine;

                (2) verify the public counter number on the machine; and

                (3) return the receipt to the county clerk for filing."

     Section 51. Section 1-6-14 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 1971, Chapter 317, Section 11, as amended by Laws 2003, Chapter 354, Section 1 and by Laws 2003, Chapter 356, Section 22) is amended to read:

     "1-6-14. HANDLING ABSENTEE BALLOTS BY ABSENT VOTER PRECINCT BOARDS.--

          A. Before opening an official mailing envelope, the presiding judge and the election judges shall determine that the required information has been completed on the reverse side of the official mailing envelope.

          B. If the voter's signature is missing, the presiding judge shall write "Rejected" on the front of the official mailing envelope. The election clerks shall enter the voter's name in the signature rosters and shall write the notation "Rejected--Missing Signature" in the "Notations" column of the signature rosters. The presiding judge shall place the official mailing envelope unopened in an envelope provided for rejected ballots, seal the envelope and write the voter's name on the front of the envelope and deposit it in the locked ballot box.

          C. A lawfully appointed challenger may examine the official mailing envelope and may challenge the ballot of any absent voter for the following reasons:

                (1) the official mailing envelope has been opened prior to being received by the absent voter precinct board; or

                (2) the person offering to vote is not a federal voter, federal qualified elector, overseas voter or voter as provided in the Election Code.

     Upon the challenge of an absentee ballot, the election judges and the presiding election judge shall follow the same procedure as when ballots are challenged when a person attempts to vote in person. If a challenge is upheld, the official mailing envelope shall not be opened but shall be placed in an envelope provided for challenged ballots. The same procedure shall be followed in canvassing and determining the validity of challenged absentee ballots as with other challenged ballots.

          D. If the official mailing envelope has been properly subscribed and the voter has not been challenged:

                (1) the election clerks shall enter the absent voter's name and residence address as shown on the official mailing envelope in the signature rosters and shall mark the notation "AB" opposite the voter's name in the "Notations" column of the signature rosters; and

                (2) only between 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. on the five days preceding election day, including Saturday and Sunday, and beginning at 7:00 a.m. on election day, under the personal supervision of the presiding election judge, shall the election judges open the official mailing envelope and the official inner envelope and insert the enclosed ballot into an electronic voting machine to be registered and retained until votes are counted and canvassed following the closing of the polls on election night.

          E. It is unlawful for a person to disclose the results of a count and tally or the registration on a voting machine of absentee ballots prior to the closing of the polls.

          F. Absentee ballots shall be counted and tallied on an electronic voting machine as provided in the Election Code.

          G. Absent voter precinct polls shall close at the time prescribed by the Election Code for other polling places, and the results of the election shall be certified as prescribed by the secretary of state.

          H. If an absentee ballot does not contain the identification required pursuant to Subsection D of Section 1-6-5 NMSA 1978, it shall be handled as a provisional paper ballot in accordance with the Election Code."

     Section 52. Section 1-6-20 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 1969, Chapter 54, Section 3, as amended) is amended to read:

     "1-6-20. CREATION OF ABSENT VOTER PRECINCT.--

          A. The board of county commissioners shall adopt a resolution creating, for absent voting purposes only, an absent voter precinct for each county.

          B. Absent voter precincts shall be identified by the name of the county."

     Section 53. Section 1-6-22 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 1969, Chapter 54, Section 4, as amended) is amended to read:

     "1-6-22. DESIGNATION OF ABSENT VOTER PRECINCT POLLING PLACE.--The board of county commissioners of each county shall designate a polling place in each absent voter precinct at the time the precinct is created."

     Section 54. Section 1-6-23 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 1975, Chapter 255, Section 95, as amended) is amended to read:

     "1-6-23. ABSENT VOTER PRECINCT POLLING PLACE--HOURS ON ELECTION DAY AND SUBSEQUENT DAYS.--The county clerk or statutorily appointed supervisor of the election shall determine the hours during which the absent voter precinct polling place shall be open for delivery and registering of      absentee ballots on the five days preceding election day and the delivery, registering and counting of ballots on election day and subsequent days until all ballots are counted."

     Section 55. Section 1-8-52 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 1977, Chapter 322, Section 8, as amended) is amended to read:

     "1-8-52. INDEPENDENT CANDIDATES FOR GENERAL OR UNITED STATES REPRESENTATIVE SPECIAL ELECTIONS--NOMINATING PETITIONS--CIRCULATION--DATE OF FILING.--

          A. Declarations of independent candidacy and nominating petitions shall be filed with the proper filing officer during the period commencing at 9:00 a.m. on the day following the primary election of each even-numbered year and ending at 5:00 p.m. on that same day and not later than

5:00 p.m. on the fifty-sixth day preceding any United States representative special election.

          B. Declarations of independent candidacy and nominating petitions for the office of president of the United States shall be filed with the proper filing officer during the period commencing at 9:00 a.m. on the day following the primary election and ending at 5:00 p.m. on the same day."

     Section 56. A new section of Chapter 1, Article 9 NMSA 1978 is enacted to read:

     "VOTING SYSTEM--VOTER VERIFIABLE PAPER TRAIL.--

          A. All voting systems used in elections covered by the Election Code shall have a voter verifiable and auditable paper trail; provided, however, that voting systems owned or used by a county on the effective date of this 2005 act that do not have a voter verifiable and auditable paper trail may be used until the first occurrence of the following:

                (1) sufficient federal, state or local funds are available to replace the voting system; or

                (2) December 31, 2006.

          B. In any event, no voting system shall be used that has not been certified by the secretary of state.

          C. As used in this section:

                (1) "voting system" includes a paper ballot system in which the voter physically marks the paper ballot to indicate the voter's choices; and

                (2) "voter verifiable and auditable paper trail" means a paper record of the voter's choices, viewable prior to casting the ballot, which may be the paper ballot itself; the paper trail shall be used by the state or its contractor to check either the veracity of a machine count or the count itself, or may be used in a recount proceeding, and in case of a discrepancy, the voter verifiable and auditable paper trail shall be considered the true and correct record of the voter's choices."

     Section 57. A new section of Chapter 1, Article 9 NMSA 1978 is enacted to read:

     "VOTING SYSTEMS--TESTING OF PREVIOUSLY CERTIFIED SYSTEMS.--The secretary of state may voluntarily test and certify voting systems without an application by the manufacturer if the system has been previously certified by other states or by the national association of state election directors. Tests and inspections conducted pursuant to this section shall follow the testing procedures in Section 1-9-14 NMSA 1978 and shall be completed within six months of the date on which testing begins; provided, however, that if the manufacturer has not applied for certification of that voting system, the manufacturer shall not be required to pay for the costs of testing and certification."

     Section 58. Section 1-9-4.2 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 2003, Chapter 356, Section 9) is amended to read:

     "1-9-4.2. DEFINITION OF A VOTE.--

          A. A vote on a touch-screen direct recording electronic voting system or electronic voting system consists of a voter's selection of a candidate or answer to a ballot question selected by the electro-optical ballot display of the device, followed by the voter activating the cast vote indicator.

          B. A vote on a paper ballot card used on an electronic vote tabulating marksense voting system, optical scan vote tabulating system or high-speed central count marksense vote tabulator consists of a voter's selection of a candidate or answer to a ballot question indicated in the voting response area of the paper ballot card marked in accordance with the instructions for that ballot type. If the paper ballot card is marked indistinctly or not marked according to the instructions for that ballot type, only a cross (X) or a check (√) within the voting response area shall be counted. A vote on a paper ballot card shall also be counted if, on a ballot type requiring the completion of an arrow to indicate a voter's selection, the voter has marked an arrowhead on the tail portion of the arrow in the voting response area or has circled the name of the preferred candidate or both."

     Section 59. A new section of Chapter 1, Article 12 NMSA 1978 is enacted to read:

     "CONDUCT OF ELECTIONS--SUSPENSION OF CERTAIN VOTER IDENTIFICATION REQUIREMENTS.--If on election day the amount of time voters must spend in line before being able to vote in the precinct exceeds forty-five minutes, the presiding judge of the precinct shall suspend all physical forms of voter identification requirements other than those mandated by federal law; provided, however, that at the request of two or more precinct board members of different political parties, a voter shall still present the required physical form of identification, and in the case of a voter who does not provide the required name, birth year and unique identifier, the voter shall still be required to present the required physical form of identification."

     Section 60. A new section of Chapter 1, Article 12 NMSA 1978 is enacted to read:

     "CONDUCT OF ELECTION--ELECTION DAY DELIVERY OF ABSENTEE BALLOT BY VOTER--PROCEDURES.--

          A. A voter who requested and received an absentee ballot shall be allowed to deliver the official mailing envelope containing the voter's absentee ballot on election day to the precinct in which the voter is registered if the voter presents the official mailing envelope to the election judge before the polls close on election day.

          B. The election judge shall note on the signature roster that the voter delivered the absentee ballot in person on election day. The precinct board shall deliver the unopened official mailing envelopes to the absent voter precinct board before midnight on election day."

     Section 61. A new section of Chapter 1, Article 12 NMSA 1978 is enacted to read:

     "QUALIFYING PROVISIONAL, ABSENTEE AND OTHER PAPER BALLOTS.--

          A. The secretary of state shall issue rules to create a uniform process and set of criteria for deciding if provisional, absentee and other paper ballots shall be counted.

          B. When qualifying provisional, absentee and other paper ballots, middle initials, suffixes and addresses shall not be dispositive as to whether that person's ballot is qualified and counted in the vote totals, provided that the county clerk can otherwise verify the person is a voter based on the information provided on the outer envelope of the paper ballot or affidavit."

     Section 62. A new section of Chapter 1, Article 12 NMSA 1978 is enacted to read:

     "CONDUCT OF ELECTION--USE OF VOTER'S COPY OF CERTIFICATE OF REGISTRATION--PROCEDURES.--If a voter whose name is not in the signature roster presents the voter's duplicate of the voter's certificate of registration, the voter shall be allowed to vote on a provisional ballot in the proper precinct in accordance with the provisions of Section 1-5-10 NMSA 1978. The election judge shall inform the voter that the voter will be notified by the county clerk to provide a copy of the certificate of registration to the county clerk if the original certificate is not located. A note shall be entered on the signature roster indicating that the voter's certificate of registration should be checked by the county clerk." 

     Section 63. Section 1-5-10 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 1969, Chapter 240, Section 112, as amended) is recompiled as Section 1-12-7.1 NMSA 1978 and is amended to read:

     "1-12-7.1. VOTER LISTS--SIGNATURE ROSTERS--USE DURING ELECTION.--

          A. Each precinct board using voter lists shall post securely at or near the entrance of the polling place one copy of the precinct voter list for use of the voters prior to voting. The posted copy shall not contain a listing of voter social security numbers.

          B. The presiding judge of the precinct board shall assign one judge of the board to be in charge of one copy of the precinct voter list, which shall be used to confirm the registration and voting of each person offering to vote.

          C. The presiding judge of the precinct board shall assign one election clerk to be in charge of the signature roster.

          D. The judge assigned to the precinct voter list used for confirmation of registration and voting shall determine that each person offering to vote is registered and, in the case of a primary election, that the voter is registered in a party designated on the primary election ballot. If the person's registration is confirmed by the presence of the person's name on the precinct voter list and the voter provides the required voter identification, the judge shall announce to the election clerks the list number and the name of the voter as shown on the precinct voter list. If the voter does not provide the required voter identification, the voter shall be allowed to vote on a provisional ballot and shall provide the required voter identification to the county clerk's office before the county canvass begins, or to the precinct board before the polls close, or the voter's provisional ballot shall not be qualified. If the required voter identification is provided, the voter's provisional ballot shall be qualified and the voter shall not vote on any other type of ballot.

          E. The election clerk shall locate that list number and name on the signature roster and shall require the voter to sign the voter's usual signature or, if unable to write, to make the voter's mark opposite the voter's printed name. If the voter makes the voter's mark, it shall be witnessed by one of the judges of the precinct board. If the signature roster indicates that the voter is required to present a physical form of identification before voting, the election judge shall ask the voter for the required physical form of identification. If the voter does not provide the required identification, the voter shall be allowed to vote on a provisional paper ballot; provided, however, that if the voter brings the required physical form of identification to the polling place after casting a provisional ballot, that ballot shall be qualified and the voter shall not vote on any other type of ballot.

          F. The election judge shall follow the procedures provided for in Sections 1-12-7.2 and 1-12-8 NMSA 1978 if a person whose name does not appear on the signature roster requests to vote or a person is required to vote on a provisional paper ballot.

          G. A voter shall not be permitted to vote until the voter has properly signed the voter's usual signature or made the voter's mark in the signature roster.

          H. After the poll is closed, the election clerk in charge of a signature roster shall draw a single horizontal line in ink through each signature space in the signature roster where no signature or mark appears."

     Section 64. Section 1-12-8 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 1969, Chapter 240, Section 247, as amended) is amended to read:

     "1-12-8. CONDUCT OF ELECTION--PROVISIONAL VOTING.--

          A. A person shall be permitted to vote on a provisional paper ballot even though the person's original certificate of registration cannot be found in the county register or even if the person's name does not appear on the signature roster, provided:

                (1) the person's residence is within the boundaries of the county in which the person offers to vote;

                (2) the person's name is not on the list of persons submitting absentee ballots; and

                (3) the person executes a statement swearing or affirming to the best of the person's knowledge that the person is a qualified elector, is currently registered and eligible to vote in that county and has not cast a ballot or voted in that election.

          B. A voter shall vote on a provisional paper ballot if the voter:

                (1) has not previously voted in a general election in New Mexico or has been purged from the voter list;

                (2) registered to vote by mail;

                (3) did not submit the physical form of the required voter identification with the certificate of registration form; and

                (4) does not present to the election judge a physical form of the required voter identification.

          C. A voter shall vote on a provisional ballot in accordance with the provisions of Section 1-12-7.1 NMSA 1978 if the voter does not provide the required voter identification to the election judge.

          D. An election judge shall have the voter sign the signature roster and issue the voter a provisional paper ballot, an outer envelope and an official inner envelope. The voter shall vote on the provisional paper ballot in secrecy and when done, place the ballot in the official inner envelope and place the official inner envelope in the outer envelope and return it to the precinct officer. The election judge shall ensure that the required information is completed on the outer envelope, have the voter sign it in the appropriate place and place it in an envelope designated for provisional paper ballots.

          E. Knowingly executing a false statement constitutes perjury as provided in the Criminal Code of this state, and voting on the basis of such falsely executed statement constitutes fraudulent voting."

     Section 65. Section 1-12-10 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 1969, Chapter 240, Section 249, as amended) is amended to read:

     "1-12-10. CONDUCT OF ELECTION--VOTER'S NAME, ADDRESS,

SIGNATURE.--

          A. When a voter presents himself at the polls to vote, he shall announce his name and address in an audible tone of voice. When an election judge finds the voter's name in the signature roster, he shall in like manner repeat the name of the voter. The election judge shall then ask the voter to provide the required voter identification. The voter shall then sign his name or make his mark on the signature line in the copy of the signature roster to be returned to the county clerk. Upon the voter's name or mark being written in the signature roster, a challenge may be interposed as provided in the Election Code.

          B. If a voter fails to provide the required voter identification, the voter shall be allowed to vote on a provisional ballot."

     Section 66. Section 1-12-10.1 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 2003, Chapter 356, Section 2) is amended to read:

     "1-12-10.1. CONDUCT OF ELECTIONS--VOTER INFORMATION.--

          A. The secretary of state shall issue rules describing the voter information the county clerks shall display, in accordance with the federal Help America Vote Act of 2002, in each polling place on election day and in each county clerk's office and alternate location where absentee or early voting is taking place.

          B. Each polling place shall post the phone numbers of the county clerk and the secretary of state and a map of the precincts represented in that polling place and an alphabetical list of the voters in each precinct represented in that polling place."

     Section 67. Section 1-12-12 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 1969, Chapter 240, Section 265, as amended) is amended to read:

     "1-12-12. CONDUCT OF ELECTION--ELIGIBILITY FOR ASSISTANCE.--A voter may request assistance in voting only if the voter:

          A. is blind;

          B. is physically disabled;

          C. is unable to read or write;

          D. is a member of a language minority who has an inability to read well enough to exercise the elective franchise; or

          E. requires assistance in operating the voting system."

     Section 68. Section 1-12-15 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 1969, Chapter 240, Section 267, as amended) is amended to read:

     "1-12-15. CONDUCT OF ELECTION--PERSONS WHO MAY ASSIST VOTER.--

          A. In any primary, general or statewide special election, if a voter who has requested assistance in marking the ballot is blind, has a physical disability, has an inability to read or write or is a member of a language minority who has requested assistance pursuant to Subsection D of Section 1-12-12 NMSA 1978, the voter may be accompanied into the voting machine only by a person of the voter's own choice other than the voter's employer or an agent of that employer, an officer or agent of the voter's union or a candidate whose name appears on the ballot in this election.

          B. The name of the person providing assistance to a voter pursuant to this section shall be recorded on the signature roster."

     Section 69. Section 1-12-19.1 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 1981, Chapter 156, Section 2, as amended) is amended to read:

     "1-12-19.1. GENERAL ELECTIONS--SPECIAL ELECTIONS--WRITE-IN CANDIDATES.--

          A. A person desiring to be a write-in candidate in a special election for United States representative or a statewide special election shall file with the proper filing officer a declaration of intent to be a write-in candidate. The declaration of intent shall be filed between 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. on the sixty-third day immediately preceding the election. A person desiring to be a write-in candidate in a general election shall file the declaration of intent between 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. on the day after the primary election.

          B. The form of the declaration of intent shall be prescribed by the secretary of state and shall contain a sworn statement by the candidate that the candidate is qualified to be a candidate for and to hold the office for which the candidate is filing.

          C. At the time of filing the declaration of intent to be a write-in candidate, the write-in candidate shall be considered a candidate for all purposes and provisions relating to candidates in the Election Code, including the obligation to report under the Campaign Reporting Act, except that the candidate shall not be entitled to have the candidate's name printed on the ballot.

          D. The secretary of state shall, not less than ten days before the general election, certify the names of the declared write-in candidates to the county clerks of every county affected by such candidacy.

          E. No person shall be a write-in candidate in the general election who was a candidate in the primary election immediately prior to the general election.

          F. A vote for a write-in candidate shall be counted and canvassed only if:

                (1) the name written in is the name of a declared write-in candidate and shows two initials and last name; first name, middle initial or name and last name; first and last name; or the full name as it appears on the declaration of intent to be a write-in candidate and misspellings of the above combinations that can be reasonably determined by a majority of the members of the precinct board to identify a declared write-in candidate; and

                (2) the name is written in the proper office or entered upon the keyboard on the voting machine or on the proper line provided on a marksense ballot, absentee ballot or emergency paper ballot for write-in votes for the office for which the candidate has filed a declaration of intent.

          G. No unopposed write-in candidate shall have an election certified unless the candidate receives at least the number of write-in votes as the candidate would need signatures on a nominating petition pursuant to the requirements in Section 1-8-33 NMSA 1978.

          H. A write-in vote shall be cast by writing in the name. As used in this section, "write-in" does not include the imprinting of any name by rubber stamp or similar device or the use of preprinted stickers or labels."

     Section 70. Section 1-12-25.2 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 2003, Chapter 356, Section 3) is amended to read:

     "1-12-25.2. CONDUCT OF ELECTION--PROVISIONAL VOTING--INFORMATION TO VOTER--STATUS OF VOTER'S BALLOT.--

          A. If a voter is required to vote on a provisional paper ballot, the election judge shall give the voter written instructions on how the voter may determine whether the vote was counted and, if the vote was not counted, the reason it was not counted.

          B. The county clerk shall establish a free access system, such as a toll-free telephone number or internet web site, that a voter who casts a provisional paper ballot may access to ascertain whether the voter's ballot was counted and, if the vote was not counted, the reason it was not counted. Access to information about an individual voter's provisional ballot is restricted to the voter who cast the ballot.

          C. Beginning with the closing of the polls on election day through the tenth day following the election, the county clerk shall notify by certified mail each person whose provisional ballot was not counted of the reason the ballot was not counted. The voter shall have until the Friday prior to the meeting of the state canvassing board to appeal to the county clerk a decision to reject the voter's ballot. The secretary of state shall establish procedures for handling appeals to the county clerk."

     Section 71. Section 1-12-25.3 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 2003, Chapter 356, Section 6) is amended to read:

     "1-12-25.3. PROVISIONAL PAPER BALLOTS--REQUIRED INFORMATION.--

          A. At a minimum, the following information shall be printed on the outer envelope for a provisional paper ballot:

                (1) the name and signature of the voter;

                (2) the voter's registered address, both present and former if applicable;

                (3) the voter's date of birth;

                (4) the reason for using the ballot;

                (5) the precinct and the polling place at which the voter has voted;

                (6) the voter's social security number; and

                (7) sufficient space to list the disposition of the ballot after review by the county clerk.

          B. A provisional paper ballot shall not be rejected for lack of the information required by this section and shall be qualified as long as the voter provides a valid signature and sufficient information for the clerk to determine the voter is a qualified elector."

     Section 72. Section 1-12-25.4 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 2003, Chapter 356, Section 7) is amended to read:

     "1-12-25.4. PROVISIONAL PAPER BALLOTS--DISPOSITION.--

          A. Upon closing of the polls, provisional paper ballots shall be delivered to the county clerk, who shall determine if the ballots will be counted prior to certification of the election.

          B. A provisional paper ballot shall not be counted if the registered voter did not sign either the signature roster or the ballot's envelope.

          C. If there is no record of the voter ever having been registered in the county, the voter shall be offered the opportunity to register and the provisional paper ballot shall not be counted.

          D. If the voter was registered in the county, the registration was later canceled and the county clerk determines that the cancellation was in error, the voter's registration shall be immediately restored and the provisional paper ballot counted.

          E. If the county clerk determines that the cancellation was not in error, the voter shall be offered the opportunity to register at the voter's correct address, and the provisional paper ballot shall not be counted.

          F. If the voter is a registered voter in the county, but has voted on a provisional paper ballot at a polling place other than the voter's designated polling place, the county canvassing board shall ensure that only those votes for the positions or measures for which the voter was eligible to vote are counted.

          G. If the county clerk finds that the voter who voted on a provisional paper ballot at the polls has also voted an absentee ballot in that election, the provisional paper ballot shall not be counted.

          H. The county canvassing board shall prepare a tally displaying the number of provisional paper ballots received, the number found valid and counted, the number rejected and not counted and the reason for not counting the ballots as part of the canvassing process and forward it to the secretary of state immediately upon certification of the election.

          I. The secretary of state shall issue rules to ensure securing the secrecy of the provisional paper ballots, especially during canvassing, reviewing or recounting, and protecting against fraud in the voting process."

     Section 73. Section 1-5-11 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 1969, Chapter 240, Section 113, as amended) is recompiled as Section 1-12-30.1 NMSA 1978 and is amended to read:

     "1-12-30.1. VOTER LISTS--SIGNATURE ROSTERS--DISPOSITION AFTER THE POLLS CLOSE.--

          A. After the polls are closed, the signature roster shall be properly certified by the precinct board and returned to the county clerk with the election returns destined for the county clerk. The precinct voter list marked for the secretary of state shall be returned to the secretary of state with the election returns destined for the secretary of state.

          B. The signed and certified signature rosters used in any election shall be considered a part of the election returns and treated accordingly. They shall be preserved and finally disposed of in the same manner as provided in the Election Code and 42 U.S.C. 1974.

          C. Whoever willfully destroys, defaces, alters without authorization or improperly disposes of signature rosters used in an election is guilty of a fourth degree felony."

     Section 74. Section 1-12-53 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 1977, Chapter 222, Section 56, as amended) is amended to read:

     "1-12-53. EMERGENCY SITUATIONS--VOTERS--EMERGENCY PAPER BALLOT--GENERAL ELECTION--MARKING.--The voter in preparing an emergency paper ballot in a general election shall mark the ballot in accordance with the instructions for that ballot type."

     Section 75. A new section of Chapter 1, Article 14 NMSA 1978 is enacted to read:

     "POST-ELECTION DUTIES--RANDOM VOTING SYSTEM CHECK--RECOUNT.--

          A. The secretary of state shall direct the county clerks to compare the total votes tallied in the general election for the office of president or governor from two percent of the voting systems in the state with total votes tallied by hand from the voter verifiable and auditable paper trail from those voting systems. The check of the voting systems shall occur within five days of the completion of the county canvass. Canvass observers shall be allowed to observe the audit under the same conditions and restrictions as for observing the county canvass. In the event that one of the randomly selected voting machines is used for absentee voting, then the prescribed certification procedure shall be used to verify the accuracy of that machine's vote total.

          B. For voting machines not used for absentee voting, if the vote totals for the voting system and the voter verifiable and auditable paper trail differ by more than one and one-half percent, the secretary of state shall have a recount conducted for the office in the precincts of the legislative district in which the discrepancy occurred. For voting machines used for absentee voting, if the results of the re-certification process produce an error rate that exceeds one and one-half percent or the error threshold approved for that machine, whichever is more restrictive, the ballots counted on that machine shall be recounted."

     Section 76. A new section of Chapter 1, Article 14 NMSA 1978 is enacted to read:

     "CONTESTS, RECOUNTS AND RECHECKS--PROVISIONAL, ABSENTEE AND OTHER PAPER BALLOTS.--The secretary of state shall issue rules governing and allowing procedures for reviewing the qualification of provisional ballot envelopes, absentee and other paper ballots in the case of a contest, recount or recheck of election results. All rejected provisional paper ballot envelopes shall be included in any contest, recount or recheck of election results, and a review of the qualification of provisional ballot envelopes shall occur in a recount."

     Section 77. Section 1-14-15 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 1978, Chapter 48, Section 1, as amended) is amended to read:

     "1-14-15. RECOUNTS--RECHECKS--COST OF PROCEEDINGS.--

          A. An applicant for a recount shall deposit with the proper canvassing board or, in the case of an office for which the state canvassing board issues a certificate of nomination or election, with the secretary of state fifty dollars ($50.00) in cash, or a sufficient surety bond in an amount equal to fifty dollars ($50.00), for each precinct for which a recount is demanded. An applicant for a recheck shall deposit with the proper canvassing board or, in the case of an office for which the state canvassing board issues a certificate of nomination or election, with the secretary of state ten dollars ($10.00) in cash, or a sufficient surety bond in an amount equal to ten dollars ($10.00), for each voting machine to be rechecked.

          B. The deposit or surety bond shall be security for the payment of the costs and expenses of the recount or recheck in case the results of the recount or recheck are not sufficient to change the results of the election. The state canvassing board may condition the issuance of the summons on a receipt of a portion of or the full estimated costs of the recount or recheck to ensure sufficient security.

          C. If it appears that error or fraud sufficient to change the winner of the election has been committed, the costs and expenses of the recount or recheck shall be paid by the state upon warrant issued by the secretary of finance and administration supported by a voucher of the secretary of state, or shall be paid by the county upon warrant of the county clerk from the general fund of the county, as the case may be.

          D. If no error or fraud appears to be sufficient to change the winner, the costs and expenses for the recount or recheck shall be paid by the applicant. Costs shall consist of any docket fees, mileage of the sheriff in serving summons and fees and mileage of precinct board members, at the same rates allowed witnesses in civil actions. If error or fraud has been committed by a precinct board, the board members shall not be entitled to such mileage or fees."

     Section 78. TEMPORARY PROVISION--RECOMPILATION.--Section 1-5-12 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 1969, Chapter 240, Section 114, as amended) is recompiled as Section 1-12-7.2 NMSA 1978.

     Section 79. REPEAL.--Sections 1-5-9, 1-5-13, 1-5-15, 1-5-20, 1-5-27 through 1-5-29 and 1-6-21 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 1969, Chapter 240, Sections 111, 115 and 120, Laws 1977, Chapter 222, Section 11, Laws 1975, Chapter 255, Sections 81 through 83 and Laws 1975, Chapter 255, Section 93, as amended) are repealed.

     Section 80. REPEAL.--Laws 2003, Chapter 356, Section 18 is repealed.

     Section 81. EFFECTIVE DATE.--

          A. The effective date of the provisions of Sections 1 through 74 and 76 through 80 of this act is July 1, 2005.

          B. The effective date of the provisions of Section 75 of this act is January 1, 2007.