HOUSE VOTERS AND ELECTIONS COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR

HOUSE BILL 219

51st legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - first session, 2013

AN ACT

RELATING TO ELECTIONS; REQUIRING ADEQUATE RESOURCES IN POLLING PLACES TO AVOID DELAY IN VOTING ON ELECTION DAY.

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

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

     "[NEW MATERIAL] ELECTION-DAY POLLING PLACES--ADEQUATE RESOURCES.--

          A. Each election-day polling place in a primary or general election that does not contain mail ballot election precincts or precincts consolidated pursuant to Section 1-3-4 NMSA 1978 shall comply with the requirements for polling places and precincts as provided in Subsections B and C of this section, unless the county clerk receives a written waiver from the secretary of state specifying the location and specific provision being waived.

          B. Each polling place shall:

                (1) have at least one voting system available to assist disabled voters to cast and record their votes; and

                (2) be in a location that is accessible and compliant with the requirements of the federal Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990.

          C. Each precinct polling place located within a single polling place shall have:  

                (1) a separate precinct board and signature roster for the precinct; 

                (2) at least one optical scan tabulator for the precinct; and

                (3) sufficient spaces for at least five voters to simultaneously and privately mark their ballots, with at least one of those spaces wheelchair-accessible, for the precinct."

- 2 -