0001| HOUSE BILL 865 | 0002| 43rd legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - first session, 1997 | 0003| INTRODUCED BY | 0004| EDWARD C. SANDOVAL | 0005| | 0006| | 0007| | 0008| FOR THE ELECTION CODE RECODIFICATION COMMITTEE | 0009| | 0010| AN ACT | 0011| RELATING TO ELECTIONS; CLARIFYING FILING REQUIREMENTS FOR | 0012| COUNTY OFFICE CANDIDATES; CLARIFYING NOMINATING PETITION | 0013| SIGNATURE REQUIREMENTS; ELIMINATING THE OPTION OF WRITE-IN | 0014| CANDIDACIES DURING A PRIMARY OR GENERAL ELECTION; PRESCRIBING | 0015| CERTAIN ELECTION FORMS; AMENDING AND REPEALING SECTIONS OF THE | 0016| ELECTION CODE. | 0017| | 0018| BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO: | 0019| Section 1. Section 1-3-9 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 1975, | 0020| Chapter 255, Section 33, as amended) is amended to read: | 0021| "1-3-9. PRECINCTS--EXCLUSIONS.--As used in Chapter 1, | 0022| Article 3 NMSA 1978, "precinct" shall not include an | 0023| absent voter precinct or an early voter precinct." | 0024| Section 2. Section 1-6A-1 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 1993, | 0025| Chapter 37, Section 1) is amended to read: | 0001| "1-6A-1. [ABSENTEE-EARLY VOTING] EARLY VOTER ACT-- | 0002| SHORT TITLE. [Sections 1-6A-1 through 1-6A-9] Chapter 1, | 0003| Article 6A NMSA 1978 may be cited as the "[Absentee-Early | 0004| Voting] Early Voter Act"." | 0005| Section 3. Section 1-6A-2 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 1993, | 0006| Chapter 37, Section 2) is amended to read: | 0007| "1-6A-2. DEFINITIONS.--As used in the [Absentee-Early | 0008| Voting] Early Voter Act: | 0009| A. "election" means any statewide election, general | 0010| election, primary election or special election to fill | 0011| vacancies in the office of United States representative and | 0012| regular or special school district elections [except as | 0013| modified by the School Election Law]; and | 0014| B. "marksense ballot" means a paper ballot card | 0015| used on an optical-scan vote-tabulating machine." | 0016| Section 4. Section 1-6A-3 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 1993, | 0017| Chapter 37, Section 3) is amended to read: | 0018| "1-6A-3. RIGHT TO VOTE [ABSENTEE-EARLY] EARLY.-- | 0019| A. Any voter may vote [absentee-early] early | 0020| for all candidates and on all questions appearing on the ballot | 0021| [at] in his precinct as if he were [able to cast] | 0022| casting his ballot in person at the polling place on | 0023| election day. | 0024| B. Any federal [qualified elector] voter may | 0025| register and vote [absentee-early] early." | 0001| Section 5. Section 1-6A-4 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 1993, | 0002| Chapter 37, Section 4, as amended) is amended to read: | 0003| "1-6A-4. [ABSENTEE-EARLY] EARLY VOTER APPLICATION.-- | 0004| Application by a voter [for absentee-early voting] to vote | 0005| early shall be made on a form prescribed and furnished by the | 0006| secretary of state to the county clerk of the county in which | 0007| [he] the voter resides. The form shall identify the | 0008| [applicant] voter and contain [such] information [as | 0009| is] necessary for voting [under the Absentee-Early Voting | 0010| Act] pursuant to the Early Voter Act." | 0011| Section 6. Section 1-6A-5 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 1993, | 0012| Chapter 37, Section 5, as amended) is amended to read: | 0013| "1-6A-5. PROCESSING APPLICATION.-- | 0014| A. The county clerk shall mark each completed | 0015| [absentee-early] early voter application with the date and | 0016| time of receipt in the clerk's office and enter the required | 0017| information in the [absentee] early voter ballot register. | 0018| B. If the applicant has no valid [affidavit] | 0019| certificate of registration on file in the county and he is | 0020| not a federal qualified elector, he shall not be allowed to | 0021| vote. The county clerk shall mark the application "rejected" | 0022| and file the application in a separate file from those | 0023| accepted. | 0024| C. If the applicant presents proof of | 0025| identification and is [determined] found to be a voter or a | 0001| federal qualified elector, the county clerk shall mark the | 0002| application "accepted" and deliver a marksense ballot or allow | 0003| the voter to vote on the direct-recording electronic machine. | 0004| Upon acceptance of the application, an appropriate designation | 0005| shall be made on the [absentee] early voter register. | 0006| D. [Absentee-early] Early voting may be done in | 0007| person during the regular hours of business at the county | 0008| clerk's office or other locations specified by the county | 0009| clerk; provided that in class A counties, the county clerk | 0010| shall establish not less than four alternative locations as | 0011| satellite polling places. [Absentee-early] Early voting may | 0012| be done from 8:00 a.m. on the twentieth day preceding the | 0013| election up until 5:00 p.m. on the Saturday immediately prior | 0014| to the date of the election. In voting [absentee-early] | 0015| early, the voter may be assisted by one person of the voter's | 0016| [own] choice. | 0017| E. The secretary of state and county clerk shall | 0018| make reasonable efforts to publicize and inform voters of the | 0019| times and locations for [absentee-early] early voting. | 0020| F. The county clerk of each county shall count, by | 0021| precinct, the total number of early votes received within each | 0022| precinct, which shall be a public record." | 0023| Section 7. Section 1-6A-6 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 1993, | 0024| Chapter 37, Section 6) is amended to read: | 0025| "1-6A-6. VOTING DEVICE PREPARATION.-- | 0001| A. Five days before the [absentee-early] early | 0002| voting period commences, the county clerk may begin to prepare, | 0003| inspect and seal the voting devices in accordance with the | 0004| specifications for electronic voting machines adopted by the | 0005| secretary of state. | 0006| B. One day prior to the [absentee-early] early | 0007| voting period, the county clerk shall certify to the secretary | 0008| of state and all county party chairmen the type and serial | 0009| number of each voting machine to be used." | 0010| Section 8. Section 1-6A-7 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 1993, | 0011| Chapter 37, Section 7, as amended) is amended to read: | 0012| "1-6A-7. MANNER OF VOTING.-- | 0013| A. Any person voting an [absentee-early] early | 0014| voter paper ballot shall: | 0015| (1) receive a ballot issued by the county | 0016| clerk; | 0017| (2) take the ballot to a voting booth and, | 0018| with the marking instrument provided, mark it by completing the | 0019| arrow to the right of the candidate's name or question on which | 0020| he desires to vote. Only those ballots marked in accordance | 0021| with instructions for marksense ballots shall be counted; and | 0022| (3) make all selections and feed the ballot | 0023| into the machine to record his vote. | 0024| B. Any person voting [absentee-early] early on | 0025| the direct-recording electronic voting machine shall: | 0001| (1) enter the machine; | 0002| (2) press the square to the right of the | 0003| candidate's name or question on which he desires to vote; and | 0004| (3) make all selections and press the vote | 0005| button in the lower right hand corner of the voting machine to | 0006| record his vote. | 0007| C. Any person voting [absentee-early] early in | 0008| a county [utilizing] using a central vote counting system | 0009| shall receive and complete an [absentee-early] early voter | 0010| ballot and, upon completion, shall place the marked ballot into | 0011| a locked ballot box." | 0012| Section 9. Section 1-6A-8 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 1993, | 0013| Chapter 37, Section 8) is amended to read: | 0014| "1-6A-8. DELIVERY OF VOTING MACHINE TO EARLY VOTER | 0015| PRECINCT BOARD.--At 7:00 a.m. on election day the county clerk | 0016| shall deliver the [absentee-early] early voting machine to | 0017| the [absentee] early voter precinct board. A special | 0018| deputy county clerk shall receipt for the voting machine. Upon | 0019| delivery of the [absentee-early] early voting machine, the | 0020| special deputy shall obtain a receipt executed by the presiding | 0021| judge and each election judge specifying the serial number of | 0022| the machine and the number of votes recorded on the machine, | 0023| and he shall return [such] the receipt to the county clerk | 0024| for filing. Thereafter, the [absentee] early voter | 0025| precinct board shall proceed as specified in Sections 1-6-1 | 0001| through 1-6-25 NMSA 1978." | 0002| Section 10. Section 1-6A-9 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 1993, | 0003| Chapter 37, Section 9) is amended to read: | 0004| "1-6A-9. SECURITY.--The secretary of state shall adopt | 0005| rules and regulations for protecting the integrity, security | 0006| and secrecy of the [absentee-early] early voter ballot." | 0007| Section 11. Section 1-6A-10 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 1995, | 0008| Chapter 165, Section 4) is amended to read: | 0009| "1-6A-10. [ABSENTEE-EARLY VOTING] EARLY VOTER PRECINCT | 0010| BOARD.-- | 0011| A. The county clerk shall appoint [absentee-early | 0012| voting] early voter election officials who shall receive | 0013| compensation at an hourly rate set by the county clerk. | 0014| B. A minimum of three board members shall be | 0015| appointed to the [absentee-early voting] early voter | 0016| precinct board with not more than two members belonging to the | 0017| same political party. Additional members may be appointed as | 0018| the county clerk deems necessary. | 0019| C. The county clerk of a class A county shall | 0020| convene the early voter precinct board one week before election | 0021| day to begin counting early voter ballots. | 0022| D. The county clerk of a county other than a class | 0023| A county may, if necessary, convene the early voter precinct | 0024| board one week before election day to begin counting early | 0025| voter ballots." | 0001| Section 12. Section 1-6A-11 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 1995, | 0002| Chapter 165, Section 5) is amended to read: | 0003| "1-6A-11. CHALLENGERS AND WATCHERS.--Challengers and | 0004| watchers may be appointed in the [absentee-early] early | 0005| voter precinct in the same manner as the appointment of | 0006| watchers, challengers and alternate challengers pursuant to the | 0007| Election Code." | 0008| Section 13. Section 1-6A-12 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 1995, | 0009| Chapter 165, Section 6) is amended to read: | 0010| "1-6A-12. COUNTING AND CANVASSING.--The secretary of | 0011| state shall adopt rules and regulations regarding | 0012| [absentee-early] early voter ballots and voting practices, | 0013| separation of [absentee-early] early voter ballots from | 0014| absentee ballots, use of ballots rejected from voting machines, | 0015| handling of, counting and canvassing of [absentee-early] | 0016| early voter ballots and distribution of ballots by each | 0017| representative district for canvassing purposes." | 0018| Section 14. Section 1-8-13 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 1969, | 0019| Chapter 240, Section 162, as amended) is amended to read: | 0020| "1-8-13. PRIMARY ELECTION LAW--CONTENTS OF | 0021| PROCLAMATION.--The proclamation calling a primary election | 0022| shall contain: | 0023| A. the names of the major political parties | 0024| participating in the primary election; | 0025| B. the offices for which each political party shall | 0001| nominate candidates; provided that if any law is enacted by the | 0002| legislature in the year in which the primary election is held | 0003| and [such] the law does not take effect until after the | 0004| date of the proclamation but prior to the date of the primary | 0005| election, the proclamation shall conform to the intent of | 0006| [such] the law with respect to the offices for which each | 0007| political party shall nominate candidates; | 0008| C. the date on which declarations of candidacy and | 0009| nominating petitions for United States representative, any | 0010| office voted upon by all the voters of the state, a legislative | 0011| office, the office of district judge, district attorney, state | 0012| board of education or magistrate shall be filed and the places | 0013| where they shall be filed in order to have the candidates' | 0014| names printed on the official ballot of their party at the | 0015| primary election; | 0016| D. the date on and place at which declarations of | 0017| candidacy shall be filed for any other office and filing fees | 0018| paid or, in lieu thereof, a pauper's statement of inability to | 0019| pay; | 0020| [E. the date on and place at which declarations of | 0021| intent to be a write-in candidate for a statewide office or | 0022| office of United States representative shall be filed; | 0023| F. the date on and place at which declarations of | 0024| intent to be a write-in candidate for any other office shall be | 0025| filed; | 0001| G.] E. the final date on and place at which | 0002| candidates for the office of United States representative and | 0003| for any statewide office seeking preprimary convention | 0004| designation by the major parties shall file petitions and | 0005| declarations of candidacy; | 0006| [H.] F. the final date on which the major | 0007| political parties shall hold state preprimary conventions for | 0008| the designation of candidates; and | 0009| [I.] G. the final date on and place at which | 0010| certificates of designation of primary election candidates | 0011| shall be filed by political parties with the secretary of | 0012| state. | 0013| As used in the Primary Election Law, "statewide office" | 0014| means any office voted on by all the voters of the state." | 0015| Section 15. Section 1-8-21 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 1996, | 0016| Chapter 20, Section 3) is amended to read: | 0017| "1-8-21. PRIMARY ELECTION--METHODS OF PLACING NAMES ON | 0018| PRIMARY BALLOT.-- | 0019| A. [All candidates] A candidate seeking primary | 0020| election nomination to a statewide office or the office of | 0021| United States representative shall file [declarations] a | 0022| declaration of candidacy with the proper filing officer. | 0023| [Candidates] A candidate shall file a nominating | 0024| [petitions] petition at the time of filing [their | 0025| declarations] the declaration of candidacy. [Candidates] | 0001| A candidate who [seek] seeks, but [do] does not | 0002| obtain, preprimary convention designation by a major political | 0003| party may file a new [declarations] declaration of | 0004| candidacy and a nominating [petitions] petition pursuant | 0005| to Section 1-8-33 NMSA 1978. | 0006| B. [Candidates] A candidate for [any other | 0007| office] a legislative office, the office of district | 0008| attorney, district judge, metropolitan judge, magistrate or the | 0009| state board of education shall have [their names] his name | 0010| placed on the primary election ballot by filing | 0011| [declarations] with the proper filing officer a declaration | 0012| of candidacy and a nominating [petitions with the proper | 0013| filing officer. Candidates for county office shall also pay | 0014| filing fees or file the proper paupers' statements at the time | 0015| of filing declarations of candidacy] petition. | 0016| C. A candidate for a county office shall have his | 0017| name placed on the primary election ballot by filing with the | 0018| proper filing officer a declaration of candidacy accompanied by | 0019| the appropriate filing fee or a pauper's statement." | 0020| Section 16. Section 1-8-30 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 1973, | 0021| Chapter 228, Section 4, as amended) is amended to read: | 0022| "1-8-30. PRIMARY ELECTION LAW--DECLARATION OF | 0023| CANDIDACY--NOMINATING PETITION--FILING AND FORM.-- | 0024| A. As used in the Primary Election Law, "nominating | 0025| petition" means the authorized form used for obtaining the | 0001| required number of signatures of voters, which is signed on | 0002| behalf of the person wishing to become a candidate for a | 0003| political office in the primary election requiring a nominating | 0004| petition. | 0005| B. In making a declaration of candidacy, the | 0006| candidate at the same time shall file a nominating petition, | 0007| which shall be on forms prescribed by law. | 0008| C. The nominating petition shall be on paper | 0009| approximately eight and one-half inches wide and fourteen | 0010| inches long with numbered lines for signatures spaced | 0011| approximately three-eighths of an inch apart and shall be in | 0012| the following form: | 0013| "NOMINATING PETITION | 0014| I, the undersigned, a registered voter of the | 0015| county of _______________, New Mexico, and a member of | 0016| the _______________ party, hereby nominate | 0017| ____________, who resides at _____________ in the | 0018| county of _______________, New Mexico, for the party | 0019| nomination for the office of ____________________, to | 0020| be voted for at the primary election to be held on the | 0021| first Tuesday of June, 19 _____, and I declare that I | 0022| am a resident of the state, district, county or area to | 0023| be represented by the office for which the person being | 0024| nominated is a candidate. I also declare that I have | 0025| not signed, and will not sign, any nominating petition | 0001| for more persons than the number of candidates | 0002| necessary to fill such office at the next ensuing | 0003| general election. | 0004| 1. ___________ _____________ ___________ _________ | 0005| (usual (name printed (address as (city or | 0006| signature) as registered) registered) rt. no.) | 0007| 2. ___________ _____________ ___________ _________ | 0008| (usual (name printed (address as (city or | 0009| signature) as registered) registered) rt. | 0010| no.)". | 0011| D. In October of odd-numbered years, the secretary of | 0012| state shall furnish to each county clerk a sample of a | 0013| nominating petition form, a copy of which shall be made | 0014| available by the county clerk upon request of any candidate. | 0015| [E. The signature of the voter shall not be counted | 0016| unless the voter was a registered member of the candidate's | 0017| party ten days prior to the filing of the nominating petition. | 0018| The signature of the voter shall not be counted unless the | 0019| entire line indicates the voter's usual signature, his name | 0020| printed as registered and his address as registered and his | 0021| city or route number and is upon the form furnished by the | 0022| secretary of state to the county clerks or a duplicate thereof. | 0023| F.] E. When more than one sheet is required for a | 0024| petition, each of the sheets shall be in the form prescribed by | 0025| this section and all sheets shall be firmly secured by a staple | 0001| or other suitable fastening." | 0002| Section 17. Section 1-8-31 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 1973, | 0003| Chapter 228, Section 5, as amended by Laws 1993, Chapter 314, | 0004| Section 47 and also by Laws 1993, Chapter 316, Section 47) is | 0005| amended to read: | 0006| "1-8-31. PRIMARY ELECTION LAW--NOMINATING PETITION-- | 0007| SIGNATURES TO BE COUNTED.-- | 0008| A. [Each signer of] A person who signs a | 0009| nominating petition shall sign but one petition for the same | 0010| office unless more than one candidate is to be elected to | 0011| [such] that office, and in that case a person may sign | 0012| not more than the number of nominating petitions equal to the | 0013| number of candidates to be elected to the office [shall be | 0014| signed]. | 0015| B. A person who signs a nominating petition shall | 0016| indicate his residence as his address. If the person does not | 0017| have a residential address, he may list his address as a post | 0018| office box. | 0019| [B.] C. A signature shall be counted on a | 0020| nominating petition unless there is evidence presented that the | 0021| person signing: | 0022| (1) was not a registered member of the | 0023| candidate's political party ten days prior to the filing of the | 0024| nominating petition; | 0025| [(1) is not a] (2) failed to provide | 0001| information required by the nominating petition sufficient to | 0002| determine that the person is a qualified voter of the state, | 0003| district, county or area to be represented by the office for | 0004| which the person seeking the nomination is a candidate; | 0005| [(2)] (3) has signed more than one petition | 0006| for the same office, except as provided in Subsection A of this | 0007| section, or has signed one petition more than once; | 0008| [(3)] (4) is not of the same political party | 0009| as the candidate named in the nominating petition as shown by | 0010| the signer's certificate of registration [or] unless the | 0011| person signing or the candidate in the petition is registered | 0012| as an independent or as a member of a minor party; or | 0013| [(4)] (5) is not the person whose name | 0014| appears on the nominating petition. | 0015| [C.] D. The procedures set forth in this section | 0016| shall be used to validate signatures on any petition required | 0017| by the Election Code." | 0018| Section 18. Section 1-8-44 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 1969, | 0019| Chapter 240, Section 182, as amended) is amended to read: | 0020| "1-8-44. PRIMARY ELECTION LAW--WITHDRAWAL OF | 0021| CANDIDATES DATE OF WITHDRAWAL. [No] A candidate [shall] | 0022| seeking to withdraw from a primary election [unless he | 0023| withdraws] shall withdraw no later than the first [Friday | 0024| after the filing date] Tuesday in April before that primary | 0025| election." | 0001| Section 19. Section 1-8-49 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 1977, | 0002| Chapter 322, Section 5) is amended to read: | 0003| "1-8-49. INDEPENDENT CANDIDATES FOR GENERAL [OR UNITED | 0004| STATES REPRESENTATIVE SPECIAL] ELECTIONS--CANDIDATES FOR | 0005| PRESIDENT AND VICE PRESIDENT. [If the person filing the | 0006| declaration of independent candidacy is a candidate for | 0007| president of the United States, he shall also file the names | 0008| and addresses of the required number of presidential electors | 0009| who intend to vote for such independent candidate in the | 0010| electoral college.] | 0011| A. Nomination as an independent candidate for | 0012| president or vice president shall be made by filing a | 0013| declaration of independent candidacy with the proper filing | 0014| officer. The candidate for president shall also file a | 0015| nominating petition with the required number of signatures. | 0016| B. In making a declaration of independent candidacy | 0017| for president, the candidate shall submit a sworn statement in | 0018| the following form: | 0019| "DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENT CANDIDACY FOR PRESIDENT | 0020| I, (candidate's name), being duly sworn, say | 0021| that I am a citizen of the United States, have been a resident | 0022| of the United States for at least fourteen years and have | 0023| attained the age of thirty-five. | 0024| I desire to become a candidate for the office of president | 0025| of the United States at the general election to be held on the | 0001| date set by law for this year. I will be eligible and legally | 0002| qualified to hold this office at the beginning of its term. | 0003| The name of my vice presidential running mate, whom I | 0004| selected, is . The names and addresses of the | 0005| required number of presidential electors who intend to vote for | 0006| me and for my vice presidential running mate in the electoral | 0007| college are: | 0008| | 0009| name name | 0010| | 0011| residence address residence address | 0012| | 0013| mailing address mailing address | 0014| | 0015| city city | 0016| | 0017| state and zip code state and zip code | 0018| | 0019| name name | 0020| | 0021| residence address residence address | 0022| | 0023| mailing address mailing address | 0024| | 0025| city city | 0001| | 0002| state and zip code state and zip code | 0003| | 0004| name | 0005| _________________________ | 0006| residence address | 0007| _________________________ | 0008| mailing address | 0009| _________________________ | 0010| city | 0011| _________________________ | 0012| state and zip code | 0013| I submit with this statement a nominating petition in the | 0014| form and manner as prescribed by the Election Code and | 0015| regulations of the secretary of state. I make the foregoing | 0016| affidavit under oath, knowing that any false statement herein | 0017| constitutes a felony punishable in accordance with the criminal | 0018| laws of New Mexico. | 0019| | 0020| _________________________ | 0021| declarant | 0022| | 0023| _________________________ | 0024| residence address | 0025| | 0001| mailing address | 0002| | 0003| | 0004| city | 0005| | 0006| state and zip code | 0007| Subscribed and sworn to before me this day of | 0008| , 19 | 0009| | 0010| notary public | 0011| My commission expires: | 0012| ". | 0013| C. In making a declaration of independent candidacy | 0014| for vice president, the candidate shall submit a sworn | 0015| statement in the following form: | 0016| "DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENT CANDIDACY FOR VICE PRESIDENT | 0017| I, (candidate's name), being duly sworn, | 0018| say that I am a citizen of the United States, have been a | 0019| resident of the United States for at least fourteen years and | 0020| have attained the age of thirty-five. | 0021| I have been selected by independent presidential candidate | 0022| as his vice presidential running mate and | 0023| desire to be that candidate for vice president. I will be | 0024| eligible and legally qualified to hold this office at the | 0025| beginning of its term. | 0001| I make the foregoing affidavit under oath, knowing that | 0002| any false statement herein constitutes a felony punishable in | 0003| accordance with the criminal laws of New Mexico. | 0004| | 0005| | 0006| _________________________ | 0007| declarant | 0008| | 0009| _________________________ | 0010| residence address | 0011| | 0012| mailing address | 0013| | 0014| | 0015| city | 0016| | 0017| state and zip code | 0018| Subscribed and sworn to before me this day of | 0019| , 19 | 0020| | 0021| notary public | 0022| My commission expires: | 0023| ". | 0024| D. The independent presidential electors whom the | 0025| independent candidate for president is required to name shall | 0001| be registered voters of New Mexico; they may or may not be | 0002| affiliated with a political party in New Mexico. United States | 0003| senators, United States representatives and persons holding | 0004| federal offices of trust or profit are not eligible to be | 0005| electors. | 0006| E. When independent candidates for president and vice | 0007| president appear on the general election ballot, a vote for | 0008| that pair of nominees is a vote for that presidential | 0009| candidate's electors. | 0010| F. If the independent candidates for president and | 0011| vice president receive the highest number of votes at the | 0012| general election, the independent presidential candidate's | 0013| electors shall be the presidential electors of the state of New | 0014| Mexico. As such, each elector shall be granted a certificate | 0015| of election by the state canvassing board, and each elector | 0016| shall be subject to the provisions of Sections 1-15-5 through | 0017| 1-15-10 NMSA 1978." | 0018| Section 20. Section 1-8-50 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 1977, | 0019| Chapter 322, Section 6) is amended to read: | 0020| "1-8-50. INDEPENDENT CANDIDATES FOR GENERAL OR UNITED | 0021| STATES REPRESENTATIVE SPECIAL ELECTIONS--NOMINATING PETITION | 0022| FORM.-- | 0023| A. As used in Sections [3-8-27.1 through 3-8-27.8 | 0024| NMSA 1953] 1-8-45 through 1-8-52 NMSA 1978, "nominating | 0025| petition" means the authorized form [or forms] used for | 0001| obtaining the required number of signatures of voters [which] | 0002| that is signed on behalf of the person wishing to become an | 0003| independent candidate for a political office in a general or | 0004| United States representative special election requiring a | 0005| nominating petition. | 0006| B. In making a declaration of candidacy, the | 0007| candidate at the same time shall file a nominating petition, | 0008| which shall be on forms prescribed by law. | 0009| [B.] C. The nominating petition for an | 0010| independent candidate for any office except president of the | 0011| United States shall be on paper approximately eight and one- | 0012| half inches wide and fourteen inches long with numbered lines | 0013| for signatures spaced approximately three-eighths of an inch | 0014| apart and shall be in the following form: | 0015| "NOMINATING PETITION FOR INDEPENDENT CANDIDACY | 0016| FOR ANY OFFICE EXCEPT PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES | 0017| I, the undersigned, a registered voter of the | 0018| county of ____________________, New Mexico, hereby | 0019| nominate ___________________________________, who | 0020| resides at _________________________ in the county of | 0021| _______________, New Mexico, as an independent | 0022| candidate for the office of _________________________, | 0023| to be voted for at the general election (United States | 0024| representative special election) to be held on November | 0025| _____, 19 _____, and I declare that I am a resident of | 0001| the state, district, county or area to be represented | 0002| by the office for which the person being nominated is a | 0003| candidate. I also declare that I have not signed, and | 0004| will not sign, any nominating petition for more persons | 0005| than the number of candidates necessary to fill such | 0006| office at the next ensuing general election. | 0007| 1. __________ _______________ ____________ ________ | 0008| (usual (name printed (address as (city) | 0009| signature) as registered) registered) | 0010| 2. __________ _______________ ____________ ________ | 0011| (usual (name printed (address as (city)". | 0012| signature) as registered) registered) | 0013| D. The nominating petition for an independent | 0014| candidate for the office of president of the United States | 0015| shall be on paper approximately eight and one-half inches wide | 0016| and fourteen inches long with numbered lines for signatures | 0017| spaced approximately three-eighths of an inch apart and shall | 0018| be in the following form: | 0019| "NOMINATING PETITION FOR INDEPENDENT CANDIDACY FOR THE | 0020| OFFICE OF PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES | 0021| I, the undersigned, a registered voter of the | 0022| county of , New Mexico, by endorsement | 0023| hereon, petition that the name of | 0024| be printed on the general election ballot as an | 0025| independent candidate for the office of president of | 0001| the United States, to be voted on at the general | 0002| election to be held on November , 19 . I also | 0003| declare that I am that person whose name appears hereon | 0004| and that I have not signed, nor will I sign, any | 0005| nominating petition for any other candidate seeking the | 0006| office of president of the United States at the next | 0007| ensuing general election. | 0008| 1. ___________ _____________ ___________ _________ | 0009| (usual (name printed (address as (city or | 0010| signature) as registered) registered) rt. no.) | 0011| 2. ___________ _____________ ___________ _________ | 0012| (usual (name printed (address as (city or | 0013| signature) as registered) registered) rt. no.)". | 0014| [C.] E. The secretary of state shall furnish to | 0015| each county clerk a sample of the nominating petition form, a | 0016| copy of which shall be made available by the county clerk upon | 0017| request of any candidate as provided by the Election Code. | 0018| [D. The signature of the voter shall not be counted | 0019| unless the entire line is filled out in full and is upon the | 0020| form prescribed by this section. | 0021| E.] F. When more than one sheet is required for a | 0022| petition, each of the sheets shall be in the form prescribed by | 0023| this section, and all sheets shall be firmly secured by a | 0024| staple or other suitable fastening." | 0025| Section 21. Section 1-12-7 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 1969, | 0001| Chapter 240, Section 246, as amended by Laws 1993, Chapter 314, | 0002| Section 54 and also by Laws 1993, Chapter 316, Section 54) is | 0003| amended to read: | 0004| "1-12-7. CONDUCT OF ELECTION--PERSONS NOT PERMITTED TO | 0005| VOTE.-- | 0006| A. No person shall vote in any primary, general or | 0007| statewide special election unless he is a voter of the precinct | 0008| in which he offers to vote. A valid original certificate of | 0009| registration in the county register is prima facie evidence of | 0010| being a voter in the precinct. | 0011| B. No person shall vote in any primary election whose | 0012| party affiliation is not designated on his original certificate | 0013| of registration. | 0014| [C. No voter at any primary election shall be | 0015| permitted to vote for the candidate of any party other than the | 0016| party designated on his original certificate of registration at | 0017| the time the governor issues the primary election proclamation. | 0018| D. No person shall vote in any primary, general or | 0019| statewide special election whose name and certificate of | 0020| registration number appears on the list of voters purged from | 0021| the rolls. The list shall be placed with the signature rosters | 0022| and delivered to the polls with the other election supplies by | 0023| the county clerk and shall consist of those voters in the | 0024| precinct purged since the last preceding general election.]" | 0025| Section 22. Section 1-15-23 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 1969, | 0001| Chapter 240, Section 373) is amended to read: | 0002| "1-15-23. EXPIRING TERM AND NEXT SUCCEEDING TERM [-- | 0003| BALLOT--WRITE-IN]. [A.] If the same individual is a | 0004| candidate at a general election for both the expiring term and | 0005| the next succeeding term, his name shall appear but once on the | 0006| ballot, and the name of the office, followed by the words, | 0007| "full and expiring terms". | 0008| [B. Provisions shall be made in the general election | 0009| to permit any voter to write in a separate name for the | 0010| expiring term and a separate name for the next succeeding term. | 0011| A voter may write in the name of any candidate he chooses for | 0012| either term, and such vote shall be valid and counted even | 0013| though the candidate's name is printed on the paper ballot or | 0014| ballot label.]" | 0015| Section 23. Section 1-22-2 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 1985, | 0016| Chapter 168, Section 4, as amended) is amended to read: | 0017| "1-22-2. DEFINITIONS.--As used in the School Election | 0018| Law: | 0019| A. "board" means the governing authority of the local | 0020| school district; | 0021| B. "county clerk" means the clerk of each county in | 0022| which the school district is situate; | 0023| C. "proper filing officer" means the county clerk or, | 0024| in the case of a multicounty school district, the clerk of the | 0025| county in which the administrative office of the school | 0001| district is situate; | 0002| D. "magistrate" means the magistrate whose office is | 0003| situated in the municipality where the administrative office of | 0004| the school district is located or in close proximity to the | 0005| municipality; | 0006| E. "school district election" means [any] a | 0007| regular or special school district election [except] but | 0008| does not include a recall election; and | 0009| F. "superintendent" means the superintendent of | 0010| schools of the local school district." | 0011| Section 24. Section 1-22-7 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 1985, | 0012| Chapter 168, Section 9) is amended to read: | 0013| "1-22-7. DECLARATION OF CANDIDACY--FILING DATE--PENALTY.- | 0014| - | 0015| A. [A declaration of candidacy for membership on the | 0016| board to] A candidate for a school board position that will | 0017| be filled at a regular school district election shall [be | 0018| filed] file a declaration of candidacy with the proper | 0019| filing officer during the period commencing at 9:00 a.m. on the | 0020| third Tuesday in December of the even-numbered year immediately | 0021| preceding the date of the regular school district election and | 0022| ending at 5:00 p.m. on the same day. | 0023| B. [A declaration of candidacy for membership on the | 0024| board to] A candidate for a school board position that will | 0025| be filled at a special school district election shall [be | 0001| filed] file a declaration of candidacy with the proper | 0002| filing officer during the period commencing at 9:00 a.m. on the | 0003| forty-eighth day before the election and ending at 5:00 p.m. on | 0004| the same day. | 0005| C. A candidate shall file for only one school board | 0006| position during each filing period. | 0007| [C. Any person knowingly making] D. A person who | 0008| knowingly makes a false statement in his declaration of | 0009| candidacy is guilty of a fourth degree felony and shall be | 0010| sentenced pursuant to the provisions of Section 31-18-15 NMSA | 0011| 1978." | 0012| Section 25. Section 1-22-19 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 1985, | 0013| Chapter 168, Section 21, as amended) is amended to read: | 0014| "1-22-19. ABSENTEE VOTING.-- | 0015| A. [Any registered qualified elector of the school | 0016| district who cannot be present at his precinct polling place on | 0017| the day of the school district election because of illness, | 0018| injury or disability; who will be absent from his school | 0019| district of residence because his duties, occupation, business | 0020| or vacation requires him to be elsewhere; or who cannot attend | 0021| his precinct polling place because of the tenets of his | 0022| religion] A voter may vote in a school district election | 0023| by absentee ballot for all candidates and on all questions | 0024| appearing on the ballot [at the election] in his precinct | 0025| as if he were [able to cast] casting his ballot in person | 0001| at the [precinct] polling place on election day. | 0002| B. The provisions of the Absent Voter Act of the | 0003| Election Code apply to absentee voting in school district | 0004| elections, provided that absentee ballots may be marked in | 0005| person during the regular hours and days of business at the | 0006| county clerk's office from 8:00 a.m. on the twenty-fifth day | 0007| preceding the election until 5:00 p.m. on the Friday | 0008| immediately prior to the date of the election. Absentee | 0009| ballots shall be printed at least thirty days prior to the date | 0010| of the election. | 0011| C. A voter may vote early in a school district | 0012| election as provided by the Early Voter Act for all candidates | 0013| and on all questions appearing on the ballot in his precinct as | 0014| if he were casting his ballot in person at the polling place on | 0015| election day. | 0016| [C.] D. A regular precinct board may be | 0017| designated to serve as the absent voter precinct board, | 0018| [Members] the early voter precinct board or both. A member | 0019| of the absent voter precinct board or the early voter precinct | 0020| board shall receive the same compensation as [other] a | 0021| regular precinct board [members, but in no case shall] | 0022| member. A regular precinct board member who also serves as | 0023| a member of the absent voter precinct board or early voter | 0024| precinct board shall not be entitled to extra compensation for | 0025| serving on [the absent voter precinct] more than one | 0001| board." | 0002| Section 26. REPEAL.--Sections 1-8-36.1, 1-12-19.1 and | 0003| 1-12-47 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 1981, Chapter 156, Sections 1 and | 0004| 2 and Laws 1977, Chapter 222, Section 50, as amended) are | 0005| repealed. | 0006|  State of New Mexico | 0007| House of Representatives | 0008| | 0009| FORTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE | 0010| FIRST SESSION, 1997 | 0011| | 0012| | 0013| March 8, 1997 | 0014| | 0015| | 0016| Mr. Speaker: | 0017| | 0018| Your VOTERS AND ELECTIONS COMMITTEE, to whom has | 0019| been referred | 0020| | 0021| HOUSE BILL 865 | 0022| | 0023| has had it under consideration and reports same with | 0024| recommendation that it DO NOT PASS, but that | 0025| | 0001| HOUSE VOTERS AND ELECTIONS COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE | 0002| FOR HOUSE BILL 865 | 0003| | 0004| DO PASS, and thence referred to the APPROPRIATIONS | 0005| AND FINANCE COMMITTEE. | 0006| | 0007| | 0008| Respectfully submitted, | 0009| | 0010| | 0011| | 0012| | 0013| | 0014| | 0015| Edward C. Sandoval, Chairman | 0016| | 0017| | 0018| Adopted | 0019| Not Adopted | 0020| (Chief Clerk) | 0021| | 0022| (Chief Clerk) | 0023| | 0024| Date | 0025| | 0001| The roll call vote was 7 For 3 Against | 0002| Yes: 7 | 0003| No: Bird, Buffett, Lutz | 0004| Excused: Nicely, Sanchez | 0005| Absent: None | 0006| | 0007| G:\BILLTEXT\BILLW_97\H0865 HOUSE VOTERS AND ELECTIONS COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR | 0008| HOUSE BILL 865 | 0009| 43rd legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - first session, 1997 | 0010| | 0011| | 0012| | 0013| | 0014| | 0015| | 0016| | 0017| AN ACT | 0018| RELATING TO ELECTIONS; EXPANDING THE ABSENT VOTER ACT AND | 0019| REPEALING THE ABSENTEE-EARLY VOTER ACT; CLARIFYING FILING | 0020| REQUIREMENTS FOR COUNTY OFFICE CANDIDATES; CLARIFYING | 0021| NOMINATING PETITION SIGNATURE REQUIREMENTS; ELIMINATING THE | 0022| OPTION OF WRITE-IN CANDIDACIES DURING A PRIMARY OR GENERAL | 0023| ELECTION; PRESCRIBING CERTAIN ELECTION FORMS; AMENDING, | 0024| REPEALING AND ENACTING SECTIONS OF THE ELECTION CODE. | 0025| | 0001| BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO: | 0002| Section 1. Section 1-6-2 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 1987, | 0003| Chapter 327, Section 6, as amended) is amended to read: | 0004| "1-6-2. DEFINITIONS.--As used in the Absent Voter Act: | 0005| A. "absent uniformed services voter" means: | 0006| (1) a member of a uniformed service on active | 0007| duty who, by reason of such active duty, is absent from the | 0008| place of residence where the member is otherwise qualified to | 0009| vote; | 0010| (2) a member of the merchant marine who, by | 0011| reason of service in the merchant marine, is absent from the | 0012| place of residence where the member is otherwise qualified to | 0013| vote; or | 0014| (3) a spouse or dependent of a member referred | 0015| to in Paragraphs (1) and (2) of this subsection who, by reason | 0016| of the active duty or service of the member, is absent from the | 0017| place of residence where the spouse or dependent is otherwise | 0018| qualified to vote; | 0019| B. "election" means any statewide election, general | 0020| election, primary election or special election to fill | 0021| vacancies in the office of United States representative and | 0022| regular or special school district elections [except as | 0023| modified by the school election law]; | 0024| C. "electronic ballot" means a paper ballot or ballot | 0025| face designed to be used on an electronic voting machine to | 0001| cast votes; | 0002| D. "electronic voting machine" means a computer- | 0003| controlled machine designed to electronically record and | 0004| tabulate votes cast; | 0005| [C.] E. "federal office" means the office of | 0006| president, vice president or [of a] senator or representative | 0007| in congress; | 0008| [D.] F. "federal qualified elector" means: | 0009| (1) an absent uniformed services voter; or | 0010| (2) an absent uniformed [service] services | 0011| voter who, by reason of active duty or service, is absent from | 0012| the United States on the date of the election involved; | 0013| [E. "marksense ballot" means a paper ballot card | 0014| used on an optical-scan vote-tabulating machine; | 0015| F.] G. "member of the merchant marine" means an | 0016| individual other than a member of a uniformed service or an | 0017| individual employed, enrolled or maintained on the Great Lakes or | 0018| the inland waterways who: | 0019| (1) is employed as an officer or crew member of a | 0020| vessel documented under the laws of the United States, a vessel | 0021| owned by the United States or a vessel of a foreign-flag registry | 0022| under charter to or control of the United States; or | 0023| (2) is enrolled with the United States for | 0024| employment or training for employment or maintained by the United | 0025| States for emergency relief service as an officer or crew member | 0001| of any such vessel; | 0002| [G.] H. "overseas voter" means: | 0003| (1) a person who resides outside the United States | 0004| and is qualified to vote in the last place in which the person was | 0005| domiciled before leaving the United States; or | 0006| (2) a person who resides outside the United States | 0007| and, but for such residence, would be qualified to vote in the | 0008| last place in which the person was domiciled before leaving the | 0009| United States; and | 0010| [H.] I. "uniformed services" means the army, navy, | 0011| air force, marine corps and coast guard and the commissioned corps | 0012| of the national oceanic and atmospheric administration." | 0013| Section 2. Section 1-6-3 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 1969, Chapter | 0014| 240, Section 129, as amended by Laws 1993, Chapter 19, Section 1 | 0015| and also by Laws 1993, Chapter 21, Section 1) is amended to read: | 0016| "1-6-3. RIGHT TO VOTE BY ABSENTEE BALLOT[--RIGHT TO | 0017| VOTE].-- | 0018| A. Any voter may vote by absentee ballot for all | 0019| candidates and on all questions appearing on the ballot [at his | 0020| precinct poll] as if he were able to cast his ballot in person at | 0021| [the precinct poll] his regular polling place on election day. | 0022| B. Any federal qualified elector may register absentee | 0023| and vote by an absentee ballot for any federal office." | 0024| Section 3. Section 1-6-4 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 1969, Chapter | 0025| 240, Section 130, as amended by Laws 1993, Chapter 19, Section 2 | 0001| and by Laws 1993, Chapter 20, Section 1 and by Laws 1993, Chapter | 0002| 21, Section 2 and by Laws 1993, Chapter 314, Section 42 and also | 0003| by Laws 1993, Chapter 316, Section 42) is amended to read: | 0004| "1-6-4. ABSENTEE BALLOT APPLICATION.-- | 0005| A. Application by a federal qualified elector for an | 0006| absentee ballot shall be made on the official postcard form | 0007| prescribed or authorized by the federal government to the county | 0008| clerk of the county of his residence. | 0009| B. Application by a voter for an absentee ballot shall | 0010| be made only on a form prescribed, printed and furnished by the | 0011| secretary of state to the county clerk of the county in which | 0012| [he] the voter resides. The form shall identify the applicant | 0013| and contain information to establish his qualification for | 0014| issuance of an absentee ballot under the Absent Voter Act. | 0015| C. Each application for an absentee ballot shall be | 0016| subscribed by the applicant." | 0017| Section 4. Section 1-6-4.1 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 1987, | 0018| Chapter 327, Section 9) is amended to read: | 0019| "1-6-4.1. FEDERAL WRITE-IN ABSENTEE BALLOT FOR OVERSEAS | 0020| VOTERS IN GENERAL ELECTIONS FOR FEDERAL OFFICES.-- | 0021| A. Except as provided in Subsection C of this section, a | 0022| federal write-in absentee ballot for federal offices in a general | 0023| election shall be processed in the same manner as provided by law | 0024| for other absentee ballots. | 0025| B. In completing the ballot, the overseas voter may | 0001| designate a candidate by writing in the name of the candidate or | 0002| by writing in the name of a political party, in which case the | 0003| ballot shall be counted for all candidates of that political party | 0004| for federal office. Any abbreviation, misspelling or other minor | 0005| variation in the form of the name of a candidate or a political | 0006| party shall be disregarded in determining the validity of the | 0007| ballot if the intention of the overseas voter can be ascertained. | 0008| C. A federal write-in absentee ballot of an overseas | 0009| voter shall not be counted if: | 0010| (1) the ballot is submitted from any location in | 0011| the United States; | 0012| (2) the application of the overseas voter for [a | 0013| New Mexico] an absentee ballot is received by the county clerk | 0014| less than thirty days before the election; or | 0015| (3) the [New Mexico] absentee ballot of the | 0016| overseas voter is received by the county clerk later than | 0017| [seven] 7:00 p.m. on election day." | 0018| Section 5. Section 1-6-5 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 1969, Chapter | 0019| 240, Section 131, as amended by Laws 1993, Chapter 314, Section 43 | 0020| and also by Laws 1993, Chapter 316, Section 43) is amended to | 0021| read: | 0022| "1-6-5. PROCESSING APPLICATION--ISSUANCE OF | 0023| BALLOT [MAKING] MARKING AND DELIVERY OF BALLOT IN PERSON.-- | 0024| A. The county clerk shall mark each completed absentee | 0025| ballot application with the date and time of receipt in the | 0001| clerk's office and enter the required information in the absentee | 0002| ballot register. The county clerk shall then determine if the | 0003| applicant is a voter, an absent uniformed services voter or an | 0004| overseas voter. | 0005| B. If the applicant has no valid certificate of | 0006| registration on file in the county and he is not a federal | 0007| qualified elector or if the applicant states he is a federal | 0008| qualified elector but his application indicates he is not a | 0009| federal qualified elector, no absentee ballot shall be issued. | 0010| [and] The county clerk shall mark the application "rejected" and | 0011| file the application in a separate file from those accepted. | 0012| C. The county clerk shall notify in writing each | 0013| applicant of the fact of acceptance or rejection of his | 0014| application and, if rejected, shall explain why the application | 0015| was rejected. | 0016| D. If the county clerk finds that the applicant is | 0017| [determined to be] a voter or a federal qualified elector, the | 0018| county clerk shall mark the application "accepted" and deliver an | 0019| absentee ballot to the voter in the county clerk's office or mail | 0020| to the applicant an absentee ballot and the required envelopes for | 0021| use in returning the ballot. Acceptance of an application of a | 0022| federal qualified elector constitutes registration for the | 0023| election in which the ballot is to be cast. Acceptance of an | 0024| application from an overseas voter who is not an absent uniformed | 0025| services voter constitutes a request for changing information on | 0001| the certificate of registration of any such voter. No absent | 0002| voter shall be permitted to change his party affiliation during | 0003| those periods when change of party affiliation is prohibited by | 0004| the Election Code. Upon delivery of an absentee ballot to a | 0005| voter in the county clerk's office or mailing of an absentee | 0006| ballot to any applicant who is a voter, an appropriate designation | 0007| shall be made on the signature line of the signature roster next | 0008| to the name of the [person] voter who has been | 0009| [sent] provided or mailed an absentee ballot. | 0010| E. If an application for an absentee ballot is delivered | 0011| in person to the county clerk and is accepted, the county clerk | 0012| shall [deliver the] provide the voter an absentee ballot and | 0013| it shall be marked by the applicant in a voting booth of a type | 0014| prescribed by the secretary of state [in the courthouse], sealed | 0015| in the proper envelopes and otherwise properly executed and | 0016| returned to the county clerk or his authorized representative | 0017| before the [applicant] voter leaves the office of the county | 0018| clerk. The act of marking the absentee ballot in the office of | 0019| the county clerk shall be a convenience to the voter in the | 0020| delivery of the absentee ballot and does not make the office of | 0021| the county clerk a polling place subject to the requirements of a | 0022| polling place in the Election Code other than is provided in this | 0023| subsection. It shall be unlawful to solicit votes, display or | 0024| otherwise make accessible any posters, signs or other forms of | 0025| campaign literature whatsoever in the clerk's office. Absentee | 0001| ballots may be marked in person during the regular hours and days | 0002| of business at the county clerk's office from 8:00 a.m. on the | 0003| fortieth day preceding the election up until 5:00 p.m. on the | 0004| Saturday immediately prior to the date of the election. | 0005| F. Commencing with the twentieth day prior to an | 0006| election, an absent voter may vote in person at the county clerk's | 0007| office or on an electronic voting machine at an alternate location | 0008| established by the county clerk. In class A counties, the county | 0009| clerk shall establish not less than four alternate locations as a | 0010| convenience to the voters. Absentee voting may be done at the | 0011| county clerk's office or alternate location during the regular | 0012| hours of business from 8:00 a.m. on the twentieth day prior to the | 0013| election until 5:00 p.m. on the Saturday immediately prior to the | 0014| election. The county clerk shall ensure that procedures | 0015| established for processing an absent voter application and for | 0016| voting by absentee ballot are complied with at an alternate | 0017| location. | 0018| G. In marking the absentee ballot, the voter may be | 0019| assisted by one person of the voter's [own] choice [upon the | 0020| execution with the county clerk of an affidavit for assistance | 0021| stating therein that the voter meets at least one of the | 0022| conditions for receiving such assistance as is set forth by the | 0023| provisions of Section 1-12-12 NMSA 1978]. | 0024| [F.] H. Absentee ballots shall be air mailed to | 0025| applicants temporarily domiciled inside or outside the continental | 0001| limits of the United States not later than on the Thursday | 0002| immediately prior to the date of the election. | 0003| [G.] I. No absentee ballot shall be delivered or | 0004| mailed by the county clerk to any person other than the | 0005| applicant for such ballot. | 0006| [H.] J. The county clerk shall accept and process | 0007| with respect to a primary or general election for any federal | 0008| office, any otherwise valid voter registration application from an | 0009| absent uniformed services voter or overseas voter if the | 0010| application is received not less than thirty days before the | 0011| election. The county clerk shall also accept and process federal | 0012| write-in absentee ballots from overseas voters in general | 0013| elections for federal offices in accordance with the provisions of | 0014| Section 103 of the federal Uniformed and Overseas Citizens | 0015| Absentee Voting Act. | 0016| K. The secretary of state and each county clerk shall | 0017| make reasonable efforts to publicize and inform voters of the | 0018| times and locations for absentee voting." | 0019| Section 6. A new section of the Absent Voter Act is enacted | 0020| to read: | 0021| "[NEW MATERIAL] PREPARATION OF ELECTRONIC VOTING | 0022| MACHINES.-- | 0023| A. Five days before an electronic voting machine is used | 0024| for absentee voting as provided in Section 1-6-9.1 NMSA 1978, the | 0025| county clerk may begin to prepare, inspect and seal the voting | 0001| machine in accordance with the specifications for electronic | 0002| voting machines adopted by the secretary of state. | 0003| B. One day before any electronic voting machine is used | 0004| for absentee voting, the county clerk shall certify to the | 0005| secretary of state and all county party chairmen the type and | 0006| serial number of each voting machine to be used." | 0007| Section 7. Section 1-6-5.2 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 1991, | 0008| Chapter 105, Section 11) is amended to read: | 0009| "1-6-5.2. SECRETARY OF STATE--EMERGENCY AUTHORITY. [Because | 0010| of the activation of the New Mexico national guard and reserve | 0011| units and the call to active duty of many individual reservists | 0012| for military duty overseas and in order to prevent such citizens | 0013| from being technically disenfranchised] The secretary of state | 0014| shall have emergency authority to prescribe by regulation: | 0015| A. procedures to accommodate the special absentee | 0016| ballot requirements brought on by [operation desert storm in | 0017| providing absentee ballots] activation of the New Mexico | 0018| national guard and reserve units or for individuals who are | 0019| overseas voters; | 0020| B. provisions for a special write-in absentee ballot | 0021| available at least ninety days prior to an election to cover | 0022| candidates for federal [and state] offices; and | 0023| C. provisions to allow one absentee ballot request to | 0024| cover the automatic mailing of absentee ballots for each primary, | 0025| general or statewide election during the same election year." | 0001| Section 8. Section 1-6-6 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 1969, Chapter | 0002| 240, Section 132, as amended) is amended to read: | 0003| "1-6-6. ABSENTEE BALLOT REGISTER.-- | 0004| A. For each election, the county clerk shall keep an | 0005| "absentee ballot register", in which he shall enter: | 0006| (1) the name and [county] address of each | 0007| absentee ballot applicant; | 0008| (2) the date and time of receipt of the | 0009| application; | 0010| (3) whether the application was accepted or | 0011| rejected; | 0012| (4) the date of delivery of an absentee ballot in | 0013| the county clerk's office or at an alternate location or the | 0014| mailing of an absentee ballot to the applicant; | 0015| (5) the applicant's precinct; | 0016| (6) whether the applicant is a voter, a federal | 0017| voter, a federal qualified elector or an overseas citizen voter; | 0018| and | 0019| (7) the date and time the completed absentee | 0020| ballot was received from the applicant by the county clerk, or | 0021| the absent voter voted in the county clerk's office or at an | 0022| alternate location. | 0023| B. Within twenty-four hours after receipt of a voter's | 0024| application for an absentee ballot, the county clerk shall mail | 0025| either the ballot or a notice of rejection to the applicant. | 0001| C. The absentee ballot register is a public record open | 0002| to public inspection in the county clerk's office during regular | 0003| office hours. | 0004| D. The county clerk shall deliver to the [absentee] | 0005| absent voter precinct board on election day a complete list of | 0006| all absentee ballot applicants with applicable information shown | 0007| in the absentee ballot register for each applicant up to noon of | 0008| the day preceding the election. The county clerk shall deliver a | 0009| signature roster containing the same information as the lists to | 0010| the [absentee] absent voter precinct board. | 0011| E. The county clerk shall transmit to the secretary of | 0012| state and to the county chairman of each of the major political | 0013| parties in the county a complete copy of entries made in the | 0014| absentee ballot register. Such transmissions shall be made once | 0015| each week beginning four weeks immediately prior to the election. | 0016| A final copy shall be transmitted on the Friday immediately | 0017| following the election." | 0018| Section 9. Section 1-6-7 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 1969, Chapter | 0019| 240, Section 133, as amended) is amended to read: | 0020| "1-6-7. FORM OF ABSENTEE BALLOT.--As soon as candidates and | 0021| questions to be voted upon have been determined for each election, | 0022| the county clerk shall procure a supply of suitable absentee | 0023| ballots. The absentee [ballot] ballots shall be numbered and | 0024| shall be, as nearly as practicable, in the same form as prescribed | 0025| by the secretary of state for emergency ballots. However, to | 0001| reduce weight and bulk for transport of absentee ballots, the size | 0002| and weight of the paper for envelopes, ballots and instructions | 0003| shall be reduced as much as possible. Absentee ballots shall be | 0004| printed at least forty days prior to the date of a primary | 0005| election and forty-nine days prior to the date of a general | 0006| election. Absentee ballots for any other election shall be | 0007| printed at least thirty-five days prior to the date of the | 0008| election." | 0009| Section 10. Section 1-6-8 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 1969, | 0010| Chapter 240, Section 134, as amended) is amended to read: | 0011| "1-6-8. ABSENTEE BALLOT ENVELOPES.-- | 0012| A. The secretary of state shall prescribe the form of, | 0013| procure and distribute to each county clerk a supply of: | 0014| (1) official inner envelopes for use in sealing the | 0015| completed absentee ballot; | 0016| (2) official mailing envelopes for use in returning | 0017| the official inner envelope to the county clerk; | 0018| (3) absentee ballot instructions, describing proper | 0019| methods for completion of the absentee ballot and returning it; | 0020| and | 0021| (4) official transmittal envelopes for use by the | 0022| county clerk in mailing absentee ballot materials. | 0023| B. Official transmittal envelopes and official mailing | 0024| envelopes for transmission of absentee ballot materials to and | 0025| from the county clerk and federal qualified electors shall be | 0001| printed in red in the form prescribed by the federal Uniformed and | 0002| Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act. Official transmittal | 0003| envelopes and official mailing envelopes for transmission of | 0004| absentee ballot materials to and from the county clerk and voters | 0005| shall be printed in black in substantially similar form. All | 0006| official inner envelopes shall be printed in black. | 0007| C. The reverse of each official mailing envelope shall | 0008| contain a form to be executed by the person completing the | 0009| absentee ballot. The form shall identify the [person] voter | 0010| and shall contain the following statement: "I will not vote in | 0011| this election other than by the enclosed ballot. I will not | 0012| receive or offer any compensation or reward for giving or | 0013| withholding any vote."." | 0014| Section 11. Section 1-6-9 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 1969, | 0015| Chapter 240, Section 135, as amended) is amended to read: | 0016| "1-6-9. MANNER OF VOTING BY ABSENTEE BALLOT.-- | 0017| A. Any person voting under provisions of the Absent | 0018| Voter Act shall secretly mark his absentee ballot in the manner | 0019| provided in the Election Code for marking emergency paper ballots, | 0020| place it in the official inner envelope and securely seal the | 0021| envelope. The voter shall then place the official inner envelope | 0022| inside the official mailing envelope and securely seal the | 0023| envelope. The voter shall then complete the form on the reverse | 0024| of the official mailing envelope, which shall include an | 0025| affirmation by the voter under penalty of perjury that the facts | 0001| stated in the form are true. | 0002| B. Federal qualified electors shall either deliver or | 0003| mail the official mailing envelope to the county clerk of their | 0004| county of residence or deliver it to a person designated by | 0005| federal authority to receive executed ballots for transmission to | 0006| the county clerk of the county of residence or former residence as | 0007| the case may be. Voters shall either deliver or mail the official | 0008| mailing envelope to the county clerk of their county of | 0009| residence." | 0010| Section 12. Section 1-6-9.1 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 1991, | 0011| Chapter 105, Section 13, as amended) is amended to read: | 0012| "1-6-9.1. [USING THE MARKSENSE] VOTING BY ELECTRONIC | 0013| BALLOT. [Any person] An absent voter voting on [the | 0014| marksense] an electronic ballot shall secretly mark the ballot | 0015| [by completing the arrow ( ) ( ) in pencil directly to the | 0016| right of the candidate's name or the proposed question. The voter | 0017| shall then place the marked ballot in the official inner envelope | 0018| and securely seal the envelope and then place the official inner | 0019| envelope inside the official mailing envelope and securely seal | 0020| the envelope. The voter shall then complete the form on the | 0021| reverse of the official mailing envelope] in accordance with the | 0022| instructions on that ballot, and any votes cast shall be recorded | 0023| on an electronic voting machine. | 0024| Section 13. Section 1-6-10 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 1969, | 0025| Chapter 240, Section 136, as amended) is amended to read: | 0001| "1-6-10. RECEIPT OF ABSENTEE BALLOTS BY CLERK.-- | 0002| A. The county clerk shall mark on each completed | 0003| official mailing envelope the date and time of receipt in the | 0004| clerk's office, record this information in the absentee ballot | 0005| register and safely keep the official mailing envelope unopened in | 0006| a locked ballot box, except as provided in Subsection H of | 0007| Section 1-6-14 NMSA 1978, until it is delivered on election day | 0008| to the proper absent voter precinct board or until it is | 0009| canceled and destroyed in accordance with law. | 0010| B. The county clerk shall accept completed official | 0011| mailing envelopes until 7:00 p.m. on election day. Any completed | 0012| official mailing envelope received after that time shall not be | 0013| delivered to a precinct board but shall be preserved by the county | 0014| clerk until the time for election contests has expired. In the | 0015| absence of a restraining order after expiration of the time for | 0016| election contests, the county clerk shall destroy all late | 0017| official mailing envelopes without opening or permitting the | 0018| contents to be examined, cast, counted or canvassed. Before their | 0019| destruction, the county clerk shall count the numbers of late | 0020| absentee ballots from voters, federal voters, overseas citizen | 0021| voters and federal qualified electors and report the number from | 0022| each category to the secretary of state. | 0023| C. At 5:00 p.m. on the Monday immediately preceding the | 0024| date of election, the county clerk shall record the numbers of the | 0025| unused absentee ballots and shall publicly destroy in the county | 0001| clerk's office all such unused ballots. The county clerk shall | 0002| execute a certificate of [such] destruction, which shall include | 0003| the numbers on the absentee ballots destroyed. A copy of the | 0004| certificate of destruction shall be sent to the secretary of | 0005| state." | 0006| Section 14. Section 1-6-11 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 1969, | 0007| Chapter 240, Section 137, as amended) is amended to read: | 0008| "1-6-11. DELIVERY OF ABSENTEE BALLOTS TO ABSENT VOTER | 0009| PRECINCTS.-- | 0010| A. On election day, the county clerk shall deliver the | 0011| absentee ballots received by him prior to 7:00 p.m. on election | 0012| day to the special deputy county clerks for delivery to the absent | 0013| voter precinct boards. The absentee ballots for each absent voter | 0014| precinct shall be separately wrapped, and the special deputy | 0015| county clerk shall receipt for all ballots taken by him for the | 0016| county clerk. Upon delivery of the absentee ballots to the absent | 0017| voter precinct board, the special deputy county clerk shall remain | 0018| in the polling place of the absent voter precinct until he has | 0019| observed the opening of the official mailing envelope, the deposit | 0020| of the ballot in the locked ballot box and the listing of the | 0021| names on the official mailing envelope in the signature rosters. | 0022| Upon such delivery of absentee ballots, the special deputy county | 0023| clerk shall obtain a receipt executed by the presiding judge and | 0024| each election judge and he shall return such receipt to the county | 0025| clerk for filing. The receipts shall specify the number of | 0001| envelopes received by the special deputy county clerk from the | 0002| county clerk for each absent voter precinct and the number of | 0003| envelopes received by the absent voter precinct board from the | 0004| special deputy county clerk. | 0005| B. At 7:00 a.m. on election day the county clerk shall | 0006| deliver any electronic voting machine used for absentee voting to | 0007| the absent voter precinct board. A special deputy county clerk | 0008| shall issue a receipt for the voting machine. Upon delivery of | 0009| any voting machine, the special deputy shall obtain a receipt | 0010| executed by the presiding judge and each election judge specifying | 0011| the serial number of the machine and the number of votes recorded | 0012| on the machine, and he shall return the receipt to the county | 0013| clerk for filing. Thereafter, the absent voter precinct board | 0014| shall proceed as specified in Sections 1-6-1 through 1-6-25 NMSA | 0015| 1978." | 0016| Section 15. Section 1-6-14 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 1971, | 0017| Chapter 317, Section 11, as amended) is amended to read: | 0018| "1-6-14. HANDLING ABSENTEE BALLOTS BY ABSENT VOTER PRECINCT | 0019| BOARDS.-- | 0020| A. Before opening any official mailing envelope, the | 0021| presiding election judge and the election judges shall determine | 0022| that the required information has been completed on the reverse | 0023| side of the official mailing envelope. | 0024| B. If the voter's signature is missing, the presiding | 0025| election judge shall write "Rejected" on the front of the | 0001| official mailing envelope. The election clerks shall enter the | 0002| voter's name in the signature rosters and shall write the notation | 0003| "Rejected--Missing Signature" in the "Notations" column of the | 0004| signature rosters. The presiding election judge shall place the | 0005| official mailing envelope unopened in an envelope provided for | 0006| rejected ballots, seal the envelope and write the voter's name on | 0007| the front of the envelope and deposit it in the locked ballot box. | 0008| C. The accredited challengers may examine the official | 0009| mailing envelope and may challenge the ballot of any absent voter | 0010| for the following reasons: | 0011| (1) the official mailing envelope has been opened | 0012| prior to being received by the absent voter precinct board; or | 0013| (2) the person offering to vote is not a federal | 0014| voter, federal qualified elector, overseas citizen voter or voter | 0015| as provided in the Election Code. | 0016| Upon the challenge of an absentee ballot, the election judges | 0017| and the presiding election judge shall follow the same procedure | 0018| as when ballots are challenged when a person attempts to vote in | 0019| person. If a challenge is upheld, the official mailing envelope | 0020| shall not be opened but shall be placed in an envelope provided | 0021| for challenged ballots. The same procedure shall be followed in | 0022| canvassing and determining the validity of challenged absentee | 0023| ballots as with other challenged ballots. | 0024| D. If the official mailing envelopes have been properly | 0025| subscribed and the voters have not been challenged: | 0001| (1) the election judges shall open the official | 0002| mailing envelopes and deposit the ballots in their still-sealed | 0003| official inner envelopes in the locked ballot box; and | 0004| | 0005| (2) the election clerks shall enter the absent | 0006| voter's name and residence address as shown on the official | 0007| mailing envelope in the signature rosters and shall mark the | 0008| notation "AB" opposite the voter's name in the "Notations" column | 0009| of the signature rosters. | 0010| E. Prior to the closing of the polls, the election | 0011| judges and the presiding election judge may either remove the | 0012| absentee ballots from the official inner envelopes and count and | 0013| tally the results of absentee balloting or, under the personal | 0014| supervision of the presiding election judge and one election | 0015| judge from each party, [register the results of each absentee | 0016| ballot on a] count and tally the absentee ballots on an | 0017| electronic voting machine the same as if the absent voter had | 0018| been present and voted in person. It [shall be] is unlawful | 0019| for any person to disclose the results of [such] a count and | 0020| tally [or such registration on a voting machine] of absentee | 0021| ballots prior to the closing of the polls. | 0022| F. Absentee ballots shall be counted and tallied [or | 0023| registered] on [a lever voting machine or] an electronic voting | 0024| machine as provided in the Election Code [provided that any | 0025| county with a population in excess of one hundred thousand shall | 0001| count and tally or register absentee ballots on an electronic | 0002| voting machine]. | 0003| G. Absent voter precinct polls shall close at the time | 0004| prescribed by the Election Code for other polling places, and the | 0005| results of the election shall be certified as prescribed by the | 0006| secretary of state. | 0007| H. The county clerk may convene the absent voter | 0008| precinct board no more than seven days before the day of the | 0009| election to begin processing absentee ballots; provided that the | 0010| absent voter precinct board shall open only the official mailing | 0011| envelopes and sort the absentee ballots by legislative district | 0012| and shall not open any official inner envelope or count and | 0013| canvass any absentee ballot prior to the day of the election." | 0014| Section 16. Section 1-6-15 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 1977, | 0015| Chapter 222, Section 13, as amended) is amended to read: | 0016| "1-6-15. CANVASS--RECOUNT OR RECHECK--DISPOSITION. [Where | 0017| no] If voting machines are not used to register absentee | 0018| ballots, [such] the absentee ballots shall be canvassed, | 0019| recounted and disposed of in the manner provided by the Election | 0020| Code for the canvassing, recounting and disposition of emergency | 0021| paper ballots. [Where] If voting machines are used to register | 0022| absentee ballots, such ballots shall be canvassed and rechecked in | 0023| the manner provided by the Election Code for the canvassing and | 0024| recheck of ballots cast on a voting machine; provided, in the | 0025| event of a contest, voting machines used to register absentee | 0001| ballots shall not be rechecked, but the absentee ballots shall be | 0002| recounted in the manner provided by the Election Code for the | 0003| recounting of emergency paper ballots. As used in this section, | 0004| "voting machines" means [lever voting machines or] electronic | 0005| voting machines as provided in the Election Code." | 0006| Section 17. Section 1-6-16 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 1969, | 0007| Chapter 240, Section 141, as amended by Laws 1989, Chapter 368, | 0008| Section 2 and also by Laws 1989, Chapter 392, Section 15) is | 0009| amended to read: | 0010| "1-6-16. VOTING IN PERSON PROHIBITED.-- | 0011| A. Except as provided in Section 1-6-16.1 NMSA 1978, no | 0012| person who has been issued an [absent voter] absentee ballot | 0013| shall vote in person at his precinct poll. | 0014| B. At any time prior to 5:00 p.m. on the Monday | 0015| immediately preceding the date of the election, any person whose | 0016| absentee ballot application has been accepted and who was mailed | 0017| an absentee ballot but who has not received the absentee ballot | 0018| may execute, in the office of the county clerk of the county where | 0019| he is registered to vote, a sworn affidavit stating that he did | 0020| not receive or vote his absentee ballot. Upon receipt of the | 0021| sworn affidavit, the county clerk shall issue the voter a | 0022| replacement absentee ballot. | 0023| C. The secretary of state shall prescribe the form of | 0024| the affidavit and the manner in which the county clerk shall void | 0025| the first ballot mailed to the applicant." | 0001| Section 18. Section 1-6-16.1 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 1989, | 0002| Chapter 368, Section 1, as amended) is amended to read: | 0003| "1-6-16.1. ABSENTEE BALLOT--CONDUCT OF ELECTION--WHEN NOT | 0004| TIMELY RECEIVED--EMERGENCY PROCEDURE FOR VOTING AND COUNTING.-- | 0005| A. Any applicant for an absentee ballot who has not | 0006| received [the] an absentee ballot by mail as of the date of | 0007| the election may present himself at his assigned [precinct] | 0008| polling place and, after executing an affidavit of nonreceipt of | 0009| absentee ballot, shall be permitted to vote on an emergency paper | 0010| ballot [or a marksense ballot]. | 0011| B. The completed ballot shall be placed in an official | 0012| inner envelope substantially as prescribed by Section 1-6-8 NMSA | 0013| 1978 and sealed. The official inner envelope shall then be placed | 0014| in an official envelope substantially as prescribed for a | 0015| transmittal envelope or mailing envelope in Section 1-6-8 NMSA | 0016| 1978. This envelope shall contain a form on its back that | 0017| identifies the voter by name and signature roster number and | 0018| [the] a printed statement to the effect that the voter made | 0019| application for an absentee ballot but had not received it as of | 0020| the date of the election and is permitted to vote by emergency | 0021| paper ballot [or a marksense ballot]. | 0022| C. The presiding election judge shall put all [such] | 0023| absentee ballots in a special envelope provided for that purpose | 0024| by the county clerk, seal it and return it to the county clerk | 0025| along with the machine tally sheets. The sealed envelope shall | 0001| not be put in the locked ballot box. | 0002| D. Upon receipt of the envelope containing [such] | 0003| absentee ballots, the county clerk, no later than forty-eight | 0004| hours after the close of the election, shall remove the | 0005| transmittal envelopes and, without removing or opening the inner | 0006| envelopes, determine [that]: | 0007| (1) [such] if a voter did in fact make | 0008| application for an absentee ballot; and | 0009| (2) [no such] if an absentee ballot was received | 0010| by the county clerk from [the] that voter by 7:00 p.m. on | 0011| election day. | 0012| E. Upon making such determination, the county clerk | 0013| shall remove the inner envelope without opening it, destroy the | 0014| transmittal envelope and place the inner envelope in a secure | 0015| place to be transmitted to the county canvassing board to be | 0016| tallied and included in the canvass of that county for the | 0017| appropriate precinct. | 0018| F. The secretary of state shall prescribe and furnish | 0019| the necessary envelopes for purposes of this section and shall | 0020| adopt rules and regulations deemed necessary to preserve the | 0021| secrecy of the [ballot] emergency paper ballots." | 0022| Section 19. Section 1-6-16.2 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 1993, | 0023| Chapter 353, Section 1) is amended to read: | 0024| "1-6-16.2. ADDITIONAL EMERGENCY PROCEDURE FOR VOTING.-- | 0025| A. After the close of the period for requesting absentee | 0001| [voter] ballots by mail, any voter who is unable to go to the | 0002| polls due to unforeseen illness or disability resulting in his | 0003| confinement in a hospital, sanatorium, nursing home or residence | 0004| and who is unable to vote at his polling place, voting booth or | 0005| voting apparatus or machinery may request in writing that an | 0006| alternative ballot be made available to him. The written request | 0007| shall be signed by the voter and a health care provider under | 0008| penalty of perjury. | 0009| B. The alternative ballot shall be made available by the | 0010| clerk of the county in which the voter resides to any authorized | 0011| representative of the voter who through his representative has | 0012| presented the written request to the office of the clerk. | 0013| C. Before releasing the alternative ballot, the county | 0014| clerk shall compare the signature on the written request with the | 0015| signature on the voter's affidavit of registration. If the county | 0016| clerk determines that the signature on the written request is not | 0017| the signature of the voter, he shall reject the request for an | 0018| alternative ballot. | 0019| D. The voter shall mark the alternative ballot, place it | 0020| in an identification envelope similar to that used for absentee | 0021| ballots, fill out and sign the envelope and return the ballot to | 0022| the office of the clerk of the county in which the voter resides | 0023| no later than the time of closing of the polls on election day. | 0024| The voter's name shall be compared to the roster of voters and the | 0025| alternative ballot shall only be counted if there is no | 0001| signature for that voter on the roster of the precinct where that | 0002| voter's name appears. | 0003| E. Alternative ballots shall be processed and counted in | 0004| the same manner as absentee ballots. | 0005| F. The secretary of state shall prescribe the form of | 0006| alternative ballots and shall distribute an appropriate number of | 0007| alternative ballots to each county clerk." | 0008| Section 20. Section 1-6-17 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 1969, | 0009| Chapter 240, Section 142) is amended to read: | 0010| "1-6-17. CANCELLATION OF ABSENTEE BALLOT AT DEATH.--If any | 0011| person voting under the provisions of the Absent Voter Act dies | 0012| after mailing or delivering his absentee ballot to the county | 0013| clerk but before the absentee ballot is [delivered to the | 0014| deceased person's precinct board, his] counted, the official | 0015| outer envelope shall be marked ["cancelled by board of | 0016| registration"] "canceled" and preserved by the county clerk in | 0017| the same manner as provided for other uncast ballots in | 0018| Subsection B of Section [3-6-10B NMSA 1953] 1-6-10 NMSA | 0019| 1978." | 0020| Section 21. Section 1-6-21 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 1975, | 0021| Chapter 255, Section 93, as amended) is amended to read: | 0022| "1-6-21. CONSOLIDATION OF ABSENT VOTER PRECINCTS.--Absent | 0023| voter precincts may be consolidated [if] by the governing | 0024| authority if it deems it desirable and so directs by | 0025| resolution." | 0001| Section 22. Section 1-6-23 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 1975, | 0002| Chapter 255, Section 95, as amended) is amended to read: | 0003| "1-6-23. ABSENT VOTER PRECINCT POLLING PLACE--HOURS ON | 0004| ELECTION DAY. The county clerk or statutorily appointed | 0005| supervisor of the election shall determine the hours in which the | 0006| absent voter precinct polling place shall be open for delivery and | 0007| counting of ballots [shall be set by the county clerk or | 0008| statutorily appointed supervisor of the election] on election | 0009| day." | 0010| Section 23. Section 1-6-24 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 1969, | 0011| Chapter 54, Section 5, as amended) is amended to read: | 0012| "1-6-24. ABSENT VOTER PRECINCT BOARD APPOINTMENT.-- | 0013| A. The county clerk of each county shall appoint [and | 0014| compensate] absent voter precinct board members and their | 0015| respective alternates for each absent voter precinct [in the | 0016| manner specified in the Election Code for other precinct board | 0017| members] and shall compensate them at an hourly rate set by the | 0018| county clerk. | 0019| B. A minimum of three precinct board members shall be | 0020| appointed to the absent voter precinct board with no more than two | 0021| members belonging to the same political party." | 0022| Section 24. A new section of the Absent Voter Act is enacted | 0023| to read: | 0024| "[NEW MATERIAL] SECURITY--COUNTING AND CANVASSING.--The | 0025| secretary of state shall adopt rules and regulations for | 0001| protecting the integrity, security and secrecy of the absentee | 0002| ballots; procedures for voting by absentee ballot; separation of | 0003| absentee ballots voted on electronic voting machines twenty days | 0004| before the election from those received through the mail; | 0005| disposition of absentee ballots rejected by a voting machine; | 0006| handling of, counting and canvassing of absentee ballots; and | 0007| sorting of absentee ballots by representative district for | 0008| canvassing purposes." | 0009| | 0010| Section 25. Section 1-8-13 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 1969, | 0011| Chapter 240, Section 162, as amended) is amended to read: | 0012| "1-8-13. PRIMARY ELECTION LAW--CONTENTS OF | 0013| PROCLAMATION.--The proclamation calling a primary election shall | 0014| contain: | 0015| A. the names of the major political parties | 0016| participating in the primary election; | 0017| B. the offices for which each political party shall | 0018| nominate candidates; provided that if any law is enacted by the | 0019| legislature in the year in which the primary election is held and | 0020| [such] the law does not take effect until after the date of | 0021| the proclamation but prior to the date of the primary election, | 0022| the proclamation shall conform to the intent of [such] the law | 0023| with respect to the offices for which each political party shall | 0024| nominate candidates; | 0025| C. the date on which declarations of candidacy and | 0001| nominating petitions for United States representative, any office | 0002| voted upon by all the voters of the state, a legislative office, | 0003| the office of district judge, district attorney, state board of | 0004| education or magistrate shall be filed and the places where they | 0005| shall be filed in order to have the candidates' names printed on | 0006| the official ballot of their party at the primary election; | 0007| D. the date on and place at which declarations of | 0008| candidacy shall be filed for any other office and filing fees paid | 0009| or, in lieu thereof, a pauper's statement of inability to pay; | 0010| [E. the date on and place at which declarations of | 0011| intent to be a write-in candidate for a statewide office or office | 0012| of United States representative shall be filed; | 0013| F. the date on and place at which declarations of intent | 0014| to be a write-in candidate for any other office shall be filed; | 0015| G.] E. the final date on and place at which | 0016| candidates for the office of United States representative and for | 0017| any statewide office seeking preprimary convention designation by | 0018| the major parties shall file petitions and declarations of | 0019| candidacy; | 0020| [H.] F. the final date on which the major political | 0021| parties shall hold state preprimary conventions for the | 0022| designation of candidates; and | 0023| [I.] G. the final date on and place at which | 0024| certificates of designation of primary election candidates shall | 0025| be filed by political parties with the secretary of state. | 0001| As used in the Primary Election Law, "statewide office" means | 0002| any office voted on by all the voters of the state." | 0003| Section 26. Section 1-8-21 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 1996, | 0004| Chapter 20, Section 3) is amended to read: | 0005| "1-8-21. PRIMARY ELECTION--METHODS OF PLACING NAMES ON | 0006| PRIMARY BALLOT.-- | 0007| A. [All candidates] A candidate seeking primary | 0008| election nomination to a statewide office or the office of United | 0009| States representative shall file [declarations] a declaration | 0010| of candidacy with the proper filing officer. [Candidates] A | 0011| candidate shall file a nominating [petitions] petition at | 0012| the time of filing [their declarations] the declaration of | 0013| candidacy. [Candidates] A candidate who [seek] seeks, but | 0014| [do] does not obtain, preprimary convention designation by a | 0015| major political party may file a new [declarations] | 0016| declaration of candidacy and a nominating [petitions] | 0017| petition pursuant to Section 1-8-33 NMSA 1978. | 0018| B. [Candidates] A candidate for [any other office] | 0019| a legislative office, the office of district attorney, district | 0020| judge, metropolitan judge, magistrate or the state board of | 0021| education shall have [their names] his name placed on the | 0022| primary election ballot by filing [declarations] with the | 0023| proper filing officer a declaration of candidacy and a | 0024| nominating [petitions with the proper filing officer. Candidates | 0025| for county office shall also pay filing fees or file the proper | 0001| paupers' statements at the time of filing declarations of | 0002| candidacy] petition. | 0003| C. A candidate for a county office shall have his name | 0004| placed on the primary election ballot by filing with the proper | 0005| filing officer a declaration of candidacy accompanied by the | 0006| appropriate filing fee or a pauper's statement." | 0007| Section 27. Section 1-8-30 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 1973, | 0008| Chapter 228, Section 4, as amended) is amended to read: | 0009| "1-8-30. PRIMARY ELECTION LAW--DECLARATION OF | 0010| CANDIDACY--NOMINATING PETITION--FILING AND FORM.-- | 0011| A. As used in the Primary Election Law, "nominating | 0012| petition" means the authorized form used for obtaining the | 0013| required number of signatures of voters, which is signed on behalf | 0014| of the person wishing to become a candidate for a political office | 0015| in the primary election requiring a nominating petition. | 0016| B. In making a declaration of candidacy, the candidate | 0017| at the same time shall file a nominating petition, which shall be | 0018| on forms prescribed by law. | 0019| C. The nominating petition shall be on paper | 0020| approximately eight and one-half inches wide and fourteen inches | 0021| long with numbered lines for signatures spaced approximately | 0022| three-eighths of an inch apart and shall be in the following form: | 0023| "NOMINATING PETITION | 0024| I, the undersigned, a registered voter of the | 0025| county of _______________, New Mexico, and a member of | 0001| the _______________ party, hereby nominate | 0002| ____________, who resides at _____________ in the | 0003| county of _______________, New Mexico, for the party | 0004| nomination for the office of ____________________, to | 0005| be voted for at the primary election to be held on the | 0006| first Tuesday of June, 19 _____, and I declare that I | 0007| am a resident of the state, district, county or area to | 0008| be represented by the office for which the person being | 0009| nominated is a candidate. I also declare that I have | 0010| not signed, and will not sign, any nominating petition | 0011| for more persons than the number of candidates | 0012| necessary to fill such office at the next ensuing | 0013| general election. | 0014| 1. ___________ _____________ ___________ _________ | 0015| (usual (name printed (address as (city or | 0016| signature) as registered) registered) rt. no.) | 0017| 2. ___________ _____________ ___________ _________ | 0018| (usual (name printed (address as (city or | 0019| signature) as registered) registered) rt. | 0020| no.)". | 0021| D. In October of odd-numbered years, the secretary of | 0022| state shall furnish to each county clerk a sample of a | 0023| nominating petition form, a copy of which shall be made | 0024| available by the county clerk upon request of any candidate. | 0025| [E. The signature of the voter shall not be counted | 0001| unless the voter was a registered member of the candidate's | 0002| party ten days prior to the filing of the nominating petition. | 0003| The signature of the voter shall not be counted unless the | 0004| entire line indicates the voter's usual signature, his name | 0005| printed as registered and his address as registered and his | 0006| city or route number and is upon the form furnished by the | 0007| secretary of state to the county clerks or a duplicate thereof. | 0008| F.] E. When more than one sheet is required for a | 0009| petition, each of the sheets shall be in the form prescribed by | 0010| this section and all sheets shall be firmly secured by a staple | 0011| or other suitable fastening." | 0012| Section 28. Section 1-8-31 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 1973, | 0013| Chapter 228, Section 5, as amended by Laws 1993, Chapter 314, | 0014| Section 47 and also by Laws 1993, Chapter 316, Section 47) is | 0015| amended to read: | 0016| "1-8-31. PRIMARY ELECTION LAW--NOMINATING PETITION-- | 0017| SIGNATURES TO BE COUNTED.-- | 0018| A. [Each signer of] A person who signs a | 0019| nominating petition shall sign but one petition for the same | 0020| office unless more than one candidate is to be elected to | 0021| [such] that office, and in that case a person may sign | 0022| not more than the number of nominating petitions equal to the | 0023| number of candidates to be elected to the office [shall be | 0024| signed]. | 0025| B. A person who signs a nominating petition shall | 0001| indicate his residence as his address. If the person does not | 0002| have a residential address, he may provide his mailing | 0003| address. | 0004| [B.] C. A signature shall be counted on a | 0005| nominating petition unless there is evidence presented that the | 0006| person signing: | 0007| (1) was not a registered member of the | 0008| candidate's political party ten days prior to the filing of the | 0009| nominating petition; | 0010| [(1) is not a] (2) failed to provide | 0011| information required by the nominating petition sufficient to | 0012| determine that the person is a qualified voter of the state, | 0013| district, county or area to be represented by the office for | 0014| which the person seeking the nomination is a candidate; | 0015| [(2)] (3) has signed more than one petition | 0016| for the same office, except as provided in Subsection A of this | 0017| section, or has signed one petition more than once; | 0018| [(3)] (4) is not of the same political party | 0019| as the candidate named in the nominating petition as shown by | 0020| the signer's certificate of registration; or | 0021| [(4)] (5) is not the person whose name | 0022| appears on the nominating petition. | 0023| [C.] D. The procedures set forth in this section | 0024| shall be used to validate signatures on any petition required | 0025| by the Election Code, except that Paragraphs (1) and (4) of | 0001| Subsection C of this section shall not apply to petitions filed | 0002| by unaffiliated candidates or petitions filed by candidates of | 0003| minor political parties." | 0004| Section 29. Section 1-8-44 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 1969, | 0005| Chapter 240, Section 182, as amended) is amended to read: | 0006| "1-8-44. PRIMARY ELECTION LAW--WITHDRAWAL OF | 0007| CANDIDATES DATE OF WITHDRAWAL. [No] A candidate [shall] | 0008| seeking to withdraw from a primary election [unless he | 0009| withdraws] shall withdraw no later than the first [Friday | 0010| after the filing date] Tuesday in April before that primary | 0011| election." | 0012| Section 30. Section 1-8-49 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 1977, | 0013| Chapter 322, Section 5) is amended to read: | 0014| "1-8-49. INDEPENDENT CANDIDATES FOR GENERAL [OR UNITED | 0015| STATES REPRESENTATIVE SPECIAL] ELECTIONS--CANDIDATES FOR | 0016| PRESIDENT AND VICE PRESIDENT. [If the person filing the | 0017| declaration of independent candidacy is a candidate for | 0018| president of the United States, he shall also file the names | 0019| and addresses of the required number of presidential electors | 0020| who intend to vote for such independent candidate in the | 0021| electoral college.] | 0022| A. Nomination as an independent candidate for | 0023| president or vice president shall be made by filing a | 0024| declaration of independent candidacy with the proper filing | 0025| officer. The candidate for president shall also file a | 0001| nominating petition with the required number of signatures. | 0002| B. In making a declaration of independent candidacy | 0003| for president, the candidate shall submit a sworn statement in | 0004| the following form: | 0005| "DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENT CANDIDACY FOR PRESIDENT | 0006| I, (candidate's name), being duly sworn, say | 0007| that I am a citizen of the United States, have been a resident | 0008| of the United States for at least fourteen years and have | 0009| attained the age of thirty-five. | 0010| I desire to become a candidate for the office of president | 0011| of the United States at the general election to be held on the | 0012| date set by law for this year. I will be eligible and legally | 0013| qualified to hold this office at the beginning of its term. | 0014| The name of my vice presidential running mate, whom I | 0015| selected, is . The names and addresses of the | 0016| required number of presidential electors who intend to vote for | 0017| me and for my vice presidential running mate in the electoral | 0018| college are: | 0019| | 0020| name name | 0021| | 0022| residence address residence address | 0023| | 0024| mailing address mailing address | 0025| | 0001| city city | 0002| | 0003| state and zip code state and zip code | 0004| | 0005| name name | 0006| | 0007| residence address residence address | 0008| | 0009| mailing address mailing address | 0010| | 0011| city city | 0012| | 0013| state and zip code state and zip code | 0014| | 0015| name | 0016| _________________________ | 0017| residence address | 0018| _________________________ | 0019| mailing address | 0020| _________________________ | 0021| city | 0022| _________________________ | 0023| state and zip code | 0024| I submit with this statement a nominating petition in the | 0025| form and manner prescribed by the Election Code. I make the | 0001| foregoing affidavit under oath, knowing that any false | 0002| statement herein constitutes a felony punishable in accordance | 0003| with the criminal laws of New Mexico. | 0004| | 0005| _________________________ | 0006| declarant | 0007| | 0008| _________________________ | 0009| residence address | 0010| | 0011| mailing address | 0012| | 0013| | 0014| city | 0015| | 0016| state and zip code | 0017| Subscribed and sworn to before me this day of | 0018| , 19 | 0019| | 0020| notary public | 0021| My commission expires: | 0022| ". | 0023| C. In making a declaration of independent candidacy | 0024| for vice president, the candidate shall submit a sworn | 0025| statement in the following form: | 0001| "DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENT CANDIDACY FOR VICE PRESIDENT | 0002| I, (candidate's name), being duly sworn, | 0003| say that I am a citizen of the United States, have been a | 0004| resident of the United States for at least fourteen years and | 0005| have attained the age of thirty-five. | 0006| I have been selected by independent presidential candidate | 0007| as his vice presidential running mate and | 0008| desire to be that candidate for vice president. I will be | 0009| eligible and legally qualified to hold this office at the | 0010| beginning of its term. | 0011| I make the foregoing affidavit under oath, knowing that | 0012| any false statement herein constitutes a felony punishable in | 0013| accordance with the criminal laws of New Mexico. | 0014| | 0015| | 0016| _________________________ | 0017| declarant | 0018| | 0019| _________________________ | 0020| residence address | 0021| | 0022| mailing address | 0023| | 0024| | 0025| city | 0001| | 0002| state and zip code | 0003| Subscribed and sworn to before me this day of | 0004| , 19 | 0005| | 0006| notary public | 0007| My commission expires: | 0008| ". | 0009| D. The independent presidential electors whom the | 0010| independent candidate for president is required to name shall | 0011| be registered voters of New Mexico; they may or may not be | 0012| affiliated with a political party in New Mexico. United States | 0013| senators, United States representatives and persons holding | 0014| federal offices of trust or profit are not eligible to be | 0015| electors. | 0016| E. When independent candidates for president and vice | 0017| president appear on the general election ballot, a vote for | 0018| that pair of nominees is a vote for that presidential | 0019| candidate's electors. | 0020| F. If the independent candidates for president and | 0021| vice president receive the highest number of votes at the | 0022| general election, the independent presidential candidate's | 0023| electors shall be the presidential electors of the state of New | 0024| Mexico. As such, each elector shall be granted a certificate | 0025| of election by the state canvassing board, and each elector | 0001| shall be subject to the provisions of Sections 1-15-5 through | 0002| 1-15-10 NMSA 1978." | 0003| Section 31. Section 1-8-50 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 1977, | 0004| Chapter 322, Section 6) is amended to read: | 0005| "1-8-50. INDEPENDENT CANDIDATES FOR GENERAL OR UNITED | 0006| STATES REPRESENTATIVE SPECIAL ELECTIONS--NOMINATING PETITION | 0007| FORM.-- | 0008| A. As used in Sections [3-8-27.1 through 3-8-27.8 | 0009| NMSA 1953] 1-8-45 through 1-8-52 NMSA 1978, "nominating | 0010| petition" means the authorized form [or forms] used for | 0011| obtaining the required number of signatures of voters [which] | 0012| that is signed on behalf of the person wishing to become an | 0013| independent candidate for a political office in a general or | 0014| United States representative special election requiring a | 0015| nominating petition. | 0016| B. In making a declaration of candidacy, the | 0017| candidate at the same time shall file a nominating petition, | 0018| which shall be on forms prescribed by law. | 0019| [B.] C. The nominating petition for an | 0020| independent candidate for any office except president of the | 0021| United States shall be on paper approximately eight and one- | 0022| half inches wide and fourteen inches long with numbered lines | 0023| for signatures spaced approximately three-eighths of an inch | 0024| apart and shall be in the following form: | 0025| "NOMINATING PETITION FOR INDEPENDENT CANDIDACY | 0001| FOR ANY OFFICE EXCEPT PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES | 0002| I, the undersigned, a registered voter of the | 0003| county of ____________________, New Mexico, hereby | 0004| nominate ___________________________________, who | 0005| resides at _________________________ in the county of | 0006| _______________, New Mexico, as an independent | 0007| candidate for the office of _________________________, | 0008| to be voted for at the general election [(United | 0009| States representative special election)] to be held on | 0010| November _____, 19 _____, or United States | 0011| representative special election to be held on 19 | 0012| , and I declare that I am a resident of the state, | 0013| district, county or area to be represented by the | 0014| office for which the person being nominated is a | 0015| candidate. I also declare that I have not signed, and | 0016| will not sign, any nominating petition for more persons | 0017| than the number of candidates necessary to fill | 0018| [such] the office at the next ensuing general | 0019| election or at a United States representative special | 0020| election. | 0021| 1. __________ _______________ ____________ ________ | 0022| (usual (name printed (address as (city) | 0023| signature) as registered) registered) | 0024| 2. __________ _______________ ____________ ________ | 0025| (usual (name printed (address as (city)". | 0001| signature) as registered) registered) | 0002| D. The nominating petition for an independent | 0003| candidate for the office of president of the United States | 0004| shall be on paper approximately eight and one-half inches wide | 0005| and fourteen inches long with numbered lines for signatures | 0006| spaced approximately three-eighths of an inch apart and shall | 0007| be in the following form: | 0008| "NOMINATING PETITION FOR INDEPENDENT CANDIDACY FOR THE | 0009| OFFICE OF PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES | 0010| I, the undersigned, a registered voter of the | 0011| county of , New Mexico, by endorsement | 0012| hereon, petition that the name of | 0013| be printed on the general election ballot as an | 0014| independent candidate for the office of president of | 0015| the United States, to be voted on at the general | 0016| election to be held on November , 19 . I also | 0017| declare that I am that person whose name appears hereon | 0018| and that I have not signed, nor will I sign, any | 0019| nominating petition for any other candidate seeking the | 0020| office of president of the United States at the next | 0021| ensuing general election. | 0022| 1. ___________ _____________ ___________ _________ | 0023| (usual (name printed (address as (city or | 0024| signature) as registered) registered) rt. no.) | 0025| 2. ___________ _____________ ___________ _________ | 0001| (usual (name printed (address as (city or | 0002| signature) as registered) registered) rt. no.)". | 0003| [C.] E. The secretary of state shall furnish to | 0004| each county clerk a sample of the nominating petition form, a | 0005| copy of which shall be made available by the county clerk upon | 0006| request of any candidate as provided by the Election Code. | 0007| [D. The signature of the voter shall not be counted | 0008| unless the entire line is filled out in full and is upon the | 0009| form prescribed by this section. | 0010| E.] F. When more than one sheet is required for a | 0011| petition, each of the sheets shall be in the form prescribed by | 0012| this section, and all sheets shall be firmly secured by a | 0013| staple or other suitable fastening." | 0014| Section 32. Section 1-12-7 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 1969, | 0015| Chapter 240, Section 246, as amended by Laws 1993, Chapter 314, | 0016| Section 54 and also by Laws 1993, Chapter 316, Section 54) is | 0017| amended to read: | 0018| "1-12-7. CONDUCT OF ELECTION--PERSONS NOT PERMITTED TO | 0019| VOTE.-- | 0020| A. No person shall vote in any primary, general or | 0021| statewide special election unless he is a voter of the precinct | 0022| in which he offers to vote. A valid original certificate of | 0023| registration in the county register is prima facie evidence of | 0024| being a voter in the precinct. | 0025| B. No person shall vote in any primary election whose | 0001| party affiliation is not designated on his original certificate | 0002| of registration. | 0003| C. No voter at any primary election shall be | 0004| permitted to vote for the candidate of any party other than the | 0005| party designated on his [original] current certificate of | 0006| registration. [at the time the governor issues the primary | 0007| election proclamation. | 0008| D. No person shall vote in any primary, general or | 0009| statewide special election whose name and certificate of | 0010| registration number appears on the list of voters purged from | 0011| the rolls. The list shall be placed with the signature rosters | 0012| and delivered to the polls with the other election supplies by | 0013| the county clerk and shall consist of those voters in the | 0014| precinct purged since the last preceding general election.]" | 0015| Section 33. Section 1-15-23 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 1969, | 0016| Chapter 240, Section 373) is amended to read: | 0017| "1-15-23. EXPIRING TERM AND NEXT SUCCEEDING TERM | 0018| [BALLOT--WRITE-IN]. [A.] If the same individual is a | 0019| candidate at a general election for both the expiring term and | 0020| the next succeeding term, his name shall appear but once on the | 0021| ballot, and the name of the office, followed by the words, | 0022| "full and expiring terms". | 0023| [B. Provisions shall be made in the general election | 0024| to permit any voter to write in a separate name for the | 0025| expiring term and a separate name for the next succeeding term. | 0001| A voter may write in the name of any candidate he chooses for | 0002| either term, and such vote shall be valid and counted even | 0003| though the candidate's name is printed on the paper ballot or | 0004| ballot label.]" | 0005| Section 34. Section 1-22-2 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 1985, | 0006| Chapter 168, Section 4, as amended) is amended to read: | 0007| "1-22-2. DEFINITIONS.--As used in the School Election | 0008| Law: | 0009| A. "board" means the governing authority of the local | 0010| school district; | 0011| B. "county clerk" means the clerk of each county in | 0012| which the school district is situate; | 0013| C. "proper filing officer" means the county clerk or, | 0014| in the case of a multicounty school district, the clerk of the | 0015| county in which the administrative office of the school | 0016| district is situate; | 0017| D. "magistrate" means the magistrate whose office is | 0018| situated in the municipality where the administrative office of | 0019| the school district is located or in close proximity to the | 0020| municipality; | 0021| E. "school district election" means [any] a | 0022| regular or special school district election [except] but | 0023| does not include a recall election; and | 0024| F. "superintendent" means the superintendent of | 0025| schools of the local school district." | 0001| Section 35. Section 1-22-7 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 1985, | 0002| Chapter 168, Section 9) is amended to read: | 0003| "1-22-7. DECLARATION OF CANDIDACY--FILING DATE--PENALTY.- | 0004| - | 0005| A. [A declaration of candidacy for membership on the | 0006| board to] A candidate for a school board position that will | 0007| be filled at a regular school district election shall [be | 0008| filed] file a declaration of candidacy with the proper | 0009| filing officer during the period commencing at 9:00 a.m. on the | 0010| third Tuesday in December of the even-numbered year immediately | 0011| preceding the date of the regular school district election and | 0012| ending at 5:00 p.m. on the same day. | 0013| B. [A declaration of candidacy for membership on the | 0014| board to] A candidate for a school board position that will | 0015| be filled at a special school district election shall [be | 0016| filed] file a declaration of candidacy with the proper | 0017| filing officer during the period commencing at 9:00 a.m. on the | 0018| forty-eighth day before the election and ending at 5:00 p.m. on | 0019| the same day. | 0020| C. A candidate shall file for only one school board | 0021| position during each filing period. | 0022| [C. Any person knowingly making] D. A person who | 0023| knowingly makes a false statement in his declaration of | 0024| candidacy is guilty of a fourth degree felony and shall be | 0025| sentenced pursuant to the provisions of Section 31-18-15 NMSA | 0001| 1978." | 0002| Section 36. Section 1-22-19 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 1985, | 0003| Chapter 168, Section 21, as amended) is amended to read: | 0004| "1-22-19. ABSENTEE VOTING.-- | 0005| A. [Any registered qualified elector of the school | 0006| district who cannot be present at his precinct polling place on | 0007| the day of the school district election because of illness, | 0008| injury or disability; who will be absent from his school | 0009| district of residence because his duties, occupation, business | 0010| or vacation requires him to be elsewhere; or who cannot attend | 0011| his precinct polling place because of the tenets of his | 0012| religion] A voter may vote in a school district election | 0013| by absentee ballot for all candidates and on all questions | 0014| appearing on the ballot [at the election] in his precinct | 0015| as if he were [able to cast] casting his ballot in person | 0016| at the [precinct] polling place on election day. | 0017| B. The provisions of the Absent Voter Act of the | 0018| Election Code apply to absentee voting in school district | 0019| elections, provided that absentee ballots may be marked in | 0020| person during the regular hours and days of business at the | 0021| county clerk's office from 8:00 a.m. on the twenty-fifth day | 0022| preceding the election until 5:00 p.m. on the Friday | 0023| immediately prior to the date of the election. Provisions may | 0024| be made by the board in the proclamation for absentee voting by | 0025| electronic voting machine from 8:00 a.m. on the twentieth day | 0001| preceding an election until 5:00 p.m. on the Friday immediately | 0002| prior to the date of the election. Absentee ballots shall be | 0003| printed at least thirty days prior to the date of the election. | 0004| C. A regular precinct board may be designated to | 0005| serve as the absent voter precinct board. [Members] A | 0006| member of the absent voter precinct board shall receive the | 0007| same compensation as [other] a regular precinct board | 0008| [members, but in no case shall] member. A regular | 0009| precinct board member who also serves as a member of the absent | 0010| voter precinct board shall not be entitled to extra | 0011| compensation for serving on [the absent voter precinct] more | 0012| than one board." | 0013| Section 37. REPEAL.--Sections 1-6A-1 through 1-6A-12, | 0014| 1-8-36.1, 1-12-19.1 and 1-12-47 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 1993, | 0015| Chapter 37, Sections 1 through 9, Laws 1995, Chapter 165, | 0016| Sections 4 through 6, Laws 1981, Chapter 156, Sections 1 and 2 | 0017| and Laws 1977, Chapter 222, Section 50, as amended) are | 0018| repealed. | 0019|  | 0020| | 0021| State of New Mexico | 0022| House of Representatives | 0023| | 0024| FORTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE | 0025| FIRST SESSION, 1997 | 0001| | 0002| | 0003| March 13, 1997 | 0004| | 0005| | 0006| Mr. Speaker: | 0007| | 0008| Your APPROPRIATIONS AND FINANCE COMMITTEE, to | 0009| whom has been referred | 0010| | 0011| HOUSE VOTERS AND ELECTIONS COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE | 0012| FOR HOUSE BILL 865 | 0013| | 0014| has had it under consideration and reports same with | 0015| recommendation that it DO PASS, amended as follows: | 0016| | 0017| 1. On page 28, between lines 13 and 14, insert the | 0018| following new section: | 0019| | 0020| "Section 25. Section 1-8-8 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 1969, | 0021| Chapter 240, Section 158, as amended) is amended to read: | 0022| | 0023| "1-8-8. VACANCY ON GENERAL ELECTION BALLOT--OCCURRING AFTER | 0024| PRIMARY.-- | 0025| | 0001| A. If after a primary election a vacancy occurs, for | 0002| any cause, in the list of nominees of a qualified political party | 0003| for any public office to be filled in the general election, or a | 0004| vacancy occurs because of the resignation or death of a person | 0005| holding a public office not included in the governor's | 0006| proclamation and which office is required by law to be filled at | 0007| the next succeeding general election, the vacancy on the general | 0008| election ballot may be filled by: | 0009| | 0010| (1) the central committee of the state political | 0011| party filing the name of its nominee for the office with the | 0012| proper filing officer when [such] the office is a federal, | 0013| state, district or multi-county legislative district office; and | 0014| | 0015| (2) the central committee of the county political | 0016| party filing the name of its nominee for the office with the | 0017| proper filing officer when [such] the office is a magistrate, | 0018| county or a legislative district office where the district is | 0019| entirely within the boundaries of a single county. | 0020| | 0021| B. If a vacancy occurs, for any cause, in the list of | 0022| nominees of a major political party for a public office subject | 0023| to convention designation as provided in Section 1-8-21.1 NMSA | 0024| 1978 and there is no nominee on the general election ballot for | 0025| that office from any major political party, each major political | 0001| party may nominate a candidate for that office in accordance with | 0002| the provisions of Subsection A of this section. | 0003| | 0004| [B.] C. Appointments made pursuant to Subsection A | 0005| of this section shall be of the same party affiliation as the | 0006| original nominee, if any, or affiliated with the major political | 0007| party, and shall reside in the district from which he will be | 0008| elected as shown by his certificate of registration on file in | 0009| the county clerk's office before the day of the governor's | 0010| primary election proclamation. | 0011| | 0012| [C.] D. Appointments to fill vacancies in the list | 0013| of a party's nominees shall be made and filed at least fifty-six | 0014| days prior to the general election. If the vacancy is caused by | 0015| the death of a nominee, the central committee may in like manner | 0016| file the name of its nominee to fill the vacancy up until five | 0017| days prior to the general election. | 0018| | 0019| [D.] E. When the name of a nominee is filed as | 0020| provided in this section, [such] the name shall be placed on | 0021| the general election ballot as the party's candidate for that | 0022| office. In the case of a nominee appointed after the general | 0023| election ballots are printed, [such] the name shall be placed | 0024| on the ballot by pasting the printed name of the nominee over the | 0025| name of the candidate whose vacancy he fills on the general elec- | 0001| | 0002| tion ballot."". | 0003| | 0004| 2. Renumber the succeeding sections accordingly.. | 0005| | 0006| | 0007| Respectfully submitted, | 0008| | 0009| | 0010| | 0011| | 0012| | 0013| | 0014| Max Coll, Chairman | 0015| | 0016| | 0017| Adopted | 0018| Not Adopted | 0019| (Chief Clerk) | 0020| | 0021| (Chief Clerk) | 0022| | 0023| Date | 0024| | 0025| The roll call vote was 14 For 1 Against | 0001| Yes: 14 | 0002| No: Pearce | 0003| Excused: Saavedra, Varela | 0004| Absent: None | 0005| | 0006| | 0007| .118769.2 | 0008| G:\BILLTEXT\BILLW_97\H0865 | 0009| | 0010| FORTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE | 0011| FIRST SESSION, 1997 | 0012| | 0013| | 0014| March 20, 1997 | 0015| | 0016| Mr. President: | 0017| | 0018| Your RULES COMMITTEE, to whom has been referred | 0019| | 0020| HOUSE VOTERS AND ELECTIONS COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE | 0021| FOR | 0022| HOUSE BILL 865, as amended | 0023| | 0024| has had it under consideration and reports same with | 0025| recommendation that it DO PASS. | 0001| | 0002| Respectfully submitted, | 0003| | 0004| | 0005| | 0006| | 0007| __________________________________ | 0008| Gloria Howes, Chairman | 0009| | 0010| | 0011| | 0012| Adopted_______________________ Not | 0013| Adopted_______________________ | 0014| (Chief Clerk) (Chief Clerk) | 0015| | 0016| | 0017| | 0018| Date ________________________ | 0019| | 0020| | 0021| The roll call vote was 7 For 0 Against | 0022| Yes: 7 | 0023| No: 0 | 0024| Excused: Altamirano | 0025| Absent: None | 0001| | 0002| | 0003| H0865RU1 |