SENATE MEMORIAL 7

57th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - second session, 2026

INTRODUCED BY

Natalie Figueroa

 

 

 

 

 

A MEMORIAL

REQUESTING THE NEW MEXICO LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TO CONVENE A REDISTRICTING TASK FORCE TO DEVELOP CONCRETE RECOMMENDATIONS TO IMPROVE NEW MEXICO'S REDISTRICTING PROCESS, INCLUDING PROPOSED LEGISLATION TO IMPLEMENT THE RECOMMENDATIONS.

 

     WHEREAS, redistricting has proven to be a contentious process, which has often been unresolved in the legislative process and had to be settled by the courts in 2001 and 2011; and

     WHEREAS, court cases regarding the 2001 and 2011 redistricting processes cost the state more than nine million dollars ($9,000,000); and

     WHEREAS, implementing the Redistricting Act, enacted in 2021, improved the redistricting process, especially with regard to public engagement in the process; and

     WHEREAS, the composition of the citizen redistricting committee created by the Redistricting Act was not representative of the demographic diversity and geographic distribution of the population of New Mexico; and

     WHEREAS, the maps created by the citizen redistricting committee had advisory status only and were not binding on the legislature; and

     WHEREAS, the court battles over the past three redistricting processes seriously undermined the public's confidence in the political process; and

     WHEREAS, the New Mexico supreme court has ruled that egregious partisan gerrymandering violates the equal protection clause of the constitution of New Mexico; and

     WHEREAS, gerrymandering disenfranchises voters by undermining the fundamental premise of one person, one vote; and

     WHEREAS, it is crucial to have meaningful public awareness of and input into the redistricting process; and

     WHEREAS, the legislative interim provides an opportunity for the legislature to study this complex subject in detail while including stakeholders in the process;

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that the New Mexico legislative council be requested to convene a redistricting task force to develop concrete recommendations to improve New Mexico's redistricting process, including proposed legislation to implement the recommendations; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the work of the redistricting task force include: identifying potential revisions to the Redistricting Act to address the lack of diversity in the citizen redistricting committee's membership and the advisory status of the committee's maps; examining other states' successes and failures in regard to revising the redistricting process, including the creation of independent redistricting commissions to redistrict state offices; and considering any other reforms to the redistricting process; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that in the redistricting task force's work, the redistricting task force receive presentations and information from the following: major and minor political parties in New Mexico; representatives of Indian nations, tribes and pueblos; representatives of the 2021 citizen redistricting committee; state and national organizations working on voting, elections, government transparency and democracy; experts in demography and geolocation; and additional experts as determined by the chair of the task force; and 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the redistricting task force be requested to present its findings and recommendations to the New Mexico legislative council and at least two additional interim committees for discussion by December 31, 2027; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the redistricting task force be composed of thirteen to fifteen members that reflect the demographic and geographic distribution of the state, including: four legislative members, one each appointed by the president pro tempore of the senate, the speaker of the house of representatives, the minority floor leader of the senate and the minority floor leader of the house of representatives; the state chairs or designees of each major political party; and seven to nine members of the general public of New Mexico who are appointed by the state ethics commission, at least three of whom are not affiliated with a major political party and including at least one member of the 2021 citizen redistricting committee, two representatives of Indian nations, tribes or pueblos and one member with experience in demography and geolocation and may include representatives from state organizations that work on voting, elections, government transparency and democracy; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the redistricting task force may elect a chair and such other officers as it deems necessary to carry out the redistricting task force's duties; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the legislative council service be requested to supply or contract for appropriate staff for the redistricting task force. Staff may assist the redistricting task force as directed by the chair. The redistricting task force may request assistance from the legislative council service to draft appropriate legislation for consideration by the legislature; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this memorial be transmitted to the members of the New Mexico legislative council.

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