0001| SENATE BILL 61 | 0002| 43rd legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - first session, 1997 | 0003| INTRODUCED BY | 0004| GLORIA HOWES | 0005| | 0006| | 0007| | 0008| | 0009| | 0010| AN ACT | 0011| RELATING TO ELECTIONS; AMENDING, REPEALING AND ENACTING CERTAIN | 0012| SECTIONS OF THE NMSA 1978 PERTAINING TO THE FILLING OF VACANCY | 0013| IN THE OFFICE OF UNITED STATES REPRESENTATIVE; DECLARING AN | 0014| EMERGENCY. | 0015| | 0016| BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO: | 0017| Section 1. [NEW MATERIAL] UNITED STATES | 0018| REPRESENTATIVE--VACANCY.-- | 0019| A. Ten days after a vacancy occurs in the office of | 0020| United States representative, except as provided in Subsection | 0021| G of this section, the governor shall by proclamation call a | 0022| special primary election to be conducted in the congressional | 0023| district not less than thirty-five nor more than forty-one days | 0024| after the proclamation for the purpose of nominating a | 0025| candidate of each major political party for the special United | 0001| States representative election provided for in this section. A | 0002| declaration of candidacy and nominating petitions shall be | 0003| filed by a candidate for nomination of a major political party | 0004| not later than 5:00 p.m. of the twenty-first day following the | 0005| special primary election proclamation. The filing shall be | 0006| pursuant to the provisions of Section 1-8-33 NMSA 1978. The | 0007| provisions of Article 8 of the Election Code pertaining to | 0008| procedures for nominations and primary elections shall apply; | 0009| provided, however, if there is a conflict between this section | 0010| and other provisions of Article 8 of the Election Code, the | 0011| provisions of this section shall control. | 0012| B. Nominations by minor political parties for the | 0013| special election to fill the vacancy in the office of United | 0014| States representative shall be made in the manner provided by | 0015| the rules of that party; provided that such nomination is | 0016| certified to the secretary of state by the state chairman of | 0017| that party no later than 5:00 p.m. on the fifty-sixth day | 0018| preceding the date of the special United States representative | 0019| election. | 0020| C. Declarations of independent candidacy to fill | 0021| the vacancy in the office of United States representative and | 0022| nominating petitions thereto shall be filed with the secretary | 0023| of state no later than 5:00 p.m. on the fifty-sixth day | 0024| preceding the date of the special United States representative | 0025| election. | 0001| D. Write-in candidates are permitted in the special | 0002| primary election only for the nomination by the major political | 0003| party with which that person is affiliated as shown by the | 0004| person's certificate of registration and shall have the | 0005| qualifications to be a candidate in the special primary | 0006| election for the political party for which the person is a | 0007| write-in candidate. A declaration of intent to be a write-in | 0008| candidate shall be filed with the secretary of state before | 0009| 5:00 p.m. prior to the twenty-first day following the | 0010| proclamation calling for the special primary election. | 0011| E. A special United States representative election | 0012| shall be held in the congressional district not less than | 0013| eighty-seven nor more than ninety-five days after the date of | 0014| vacancy for the purpose of filling the vacancy in the office of | 0015| United States representative. | 0016| F. Special United States representative elections | 0017| called for the purpose of filling a vacancy in the office of | 0018| United States representative shall be conducted in accordance | 0019| with the provisions of the Election Code; provided, however, if | 0020| there is a conflict between this section and other provisions | 0021| of the Election Code, the provisions of this section shall | 0022| control. | 0023| G. If a vacancy occurs in the office of United | 0024| States representative after the date of the regular primary | 0025| election and before the date of the general election of that | 0001| same year, such vacancy shall be filled at that general | 0002| election of the same year. Candidates seeking the office of | 0003| United States representative in such general election for the | 0004| next succeeding term shall be deemed to be candidates for the | 0005| unexpired term as well, and the candidate elected shall take | 0006| office upon the certification of the election results. | 0007| Section 2. Section 1-8-36.1 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 1981, | 0008| Chapter 156, Section 1, as amended) is amended to read: | 0009| "1-8-36.1. PRIMARY ELECTION LAW--WRITE-IN CANDIDATES.-- | 0010| A. Write-in candidates are permitted in a special | 0011| primary election or the regular primary election only for | 0012| the offices of United States representative, members of the | 0013| legislature, district judges, district attorneys, state board | 0014| of education, magistrates and any office voted upon by all | 0015| voters of the state. | 0016| B. A person may be a write-in candidate only for | 0017| nomination by the major political party with which he is | 0018| affiliated as shown by his certificate of registration, and | 0019| such person shall have the qualifications to be a candidate in | 0020| the primary election for the political party for which he is a | 0021| write-in candidate. | 0022| C. A person desiring to be a write-in candidate for | 0023| one of the offices listed in Subsection A of this section in | 0024| the primary election shall file with the proper filing officer | 0025| a declaration of intent to be a write-in candidate. Such | 0001| declaration of intent shall be filed before 5:00 p.m. on the | 0002| second Tuesday in March. | 0003| D. A write-in vote shall be counted and canvassed | 0004| only if: | 0005| (1) the name written in is the name of a | 0006| declared write-in candidate and shows two initials and last | 0007| name; first name, middle initial or name and last name; first | 0008| and last name; or the full name as it appears on the | 0009| declaration of intent to be a write-in candidate and | 0010| misspellings of the above combinations that can be reasonably | 0011| determined by a majority of the members of the precinct board | 0012| to identify a declared write-in candidate; and | 0013| (2) the name is written in the proper slot on | 0014| the voting machine or on the proper line provided on an | 0015| absentee ballot or emergency paper ballot for write-in votes | 0016| for the office for which the candidate has filed a declaration | 0017| of intent. | 0018| E. At the time of filing the declaration of intent | 0019| to be a write-in candidate, the write-in candidate shall be | 0020| considered a candidate for all purposes and provisions relating | 0021| to candidates in the Election Code, including the obligations | 0022| to report under the Campaign Reporting Act, except that he | 0023| shall not be entitled to have his name printed on the ballot. | 0024| F. No unopposed write-in candidate shall have his | 0025| nomination certified unless he receives at least the number of | 0001| write-in votes in the primary election as he would need | 0002| signatures on a nominating petition pursuant to the | 0003| requirements set out in Section 1-8-33 NMSA 1978. | 0004| G. A write-in vote shall be cast by writing in the | 0005| name. As used in this section, "write-in" does not include the | 0006| imprinting of any name by rubber stamp or similar device or the | 0007| use of preprinted stickers or labels." | 0008| Section 3. REPEAL.--Section 1-15-18.1 NMSA 1978 (being | 0009| Laws 1983, Chapter 232, Section 16) is repealed. | 0010| Section 4. EMERGENCY.--It is necessary for the public | 0011| peace, health and safety that this act take effect immediately. | 0012| - 6 - SENATE RULES COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR | 0013| SENATE BILL 61 | 0014| 43rd legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - first session, 1997 | 0015| | 0016| | 0017| | 0018| | 0019| | 0020| | 0021| | 0022| AN ACT | 0023| RELATING TO ELECTIONS; PROVIDING FOR A SPECIAL PRIMARY ELECTION | 0024| FOR THE OFFICE OF UNITED STATES REPRESENTATIVE; AMENDING, | 0025| REPEALING AND ENACTING SECTIONS OF THE ELECTION CODE; DECLARING | 0001| AN EMERGENCY. | 0002| | 0003| BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO: | 0004| Section 1. A new section of the Election Code in enacted | 0005| to read: | 0006| "[NEW MATERIAL] UNITED STATES REPRESENTATIVE SPECIAL | 0007| ELECTION.-- | 0008| A. When a vacancy in the office of United States | 0009| representative occurs, except as provided in Subsection D of | 0010| this section, the governor shall by proclamation call a special | 0011| primary election: | 0012| (1) on the first Tuesday following the vacancy; | 0013| or | 0014| (2) on the second Tuesday following the vacancy, | 0015| if that vacancy occurs after the preceding Friday. | 0016| The special primary election shall be conducted in the | 0017| congressional district not more than sixty days after the | 0018| issuance of the proclamation for the purpose of nominating a | 0019| candidate from each major political party for the special | 0020| United States representative election. A declaration of | 0021| candidacy shall be filed by a candidate for nomination by a | 0022| major political party between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 | 0023| p.m. of the fourteenth day following the issuance of the | 0024| special primary election proclamation. | 0025| B. Nominations by minor political parties for the | 0001| special election to fill the vacancy in the office of United | 0002| States representative shall be made in the manner provided for | 0003| in Subsection A of section. | 0004| C. Declarations of independent candidacy to fill the | 0005| vacancy in the office of United States representative shall be | 0006| made in the manner provided for in Subsection A of this | 0007| section. | 0008| D. If a vacancy occurs in the office of United States | 0009| representative after the date of the regular primary election | 0010| and before the date of the general election of the same year, | 0011| that vacancy shall be filled in that general election of the | 0012| same year. Candidates seeking the office of United States | 0013| representative in that general election for the next succeeding | 0014| term shall be deemed to be candidates for the unexpired term as | 0015| well, and the candidate elected shall take office upon the | 0016| certification of the election results. | 0017| E. Precincts may be consolidated as provided in Section | 0018| 1-24-3 NMSA 1978 at the discretion of the county clerk. | 0019| F. A special United States representative election shall | 0020| be held in the congressional district not more than one hundred | 0021| days after the date of the vacancy in the office of United States | 0022| representative for the purpose of filling that vacancy." | 0023| Section 2. A new section of the Election Code is | 0024| enacted to read: | 0025| "[NEW MATERIAL] FILING FEE AND DECLARATION OF CANDIDACY | 0001| FOR UNITED STATES REPRESENTATIVE SPECIAL ELECTION.-- | 0002| A. A candidate seeking the office of United States | 0003| representative in a special primary election shall file either a | 0004| declaration of candidacy accompanied by a filing fee of two | 0005| hundred eighty dollars ($280) or a pauper's statement with the | 0006| secretary of state. | 0007| B. In the event a candidate is unable to pay the filing | 0008| fee, he may file a statement with the secretary of state at the | 0009| time he files his declaration of candidacy to the effect that he | 0010| is without financial means to pay the filing fee. The statement | 0011| shall be sworn and subscribed to on the form prescribed by the | 0012| secretary of state and shall be attached to the declaration of | 0013| candidacy." | 0014| Section 3. Section 1-6-5 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 1969, Chapter | 0015| 240, Section 131, as amended by Laws 1993, Chapter 314, Section 43 | 0016| and also by Laws 1993, Chapter 316, Section 43) is amended to | 0017| read: | 0018| "1-6-5. PROCESSING APPLICATION--ISSUANCE OF | 0019| BALLOT [MAKING] MARKING AND DELIVERY OF BALLOT IN PERSON.-- | 0020| A. The county clerk shall mark each completed absentee | 0021| ballot application with the date and time of receipt in the | 0022| clerk's office and enter the required information in the absentee | 0023| ballot register. The county clerk shall then determine if the | 0024| applicant is a voter, an absent uniformed services voter or an | 0025| overseas voter. | 0001| B. If the applicant has no valid certificate of | 0002| registration on file in the county and he is not a federal | 0003| qualified elector or if the applicant states he is a federal | 0004| qualified elector but his application indicates he is not a | 0005| federal qualified elector, no absentee ballot shall be issued and | 0006| the county clerk shall mark the application "rejected" and file | 0007| the application in a separate file from those accepted. | 0008| C. The county clerk shall notify in writing each | 0009| applicant of the fact of acceptance or rejection of his | 0010| application and, if rejected, shall explain why the application | 0011| was rejected. | 0012| D. If the applicant is determined to be a voter or a | 0013| federal qualified elector, the county clerk shall mark the | 0014| application "accepted" and deliver or mail to the applicant an | 0015| absentee ballot and the required envelopes for use in returning | 0016| the ballot. Acceptance of an application of a federal qualified | 0017| elector constitutes registration for the election in which the | 0018| ballot is to be cast. Acceptance of an application from an | 0019| overseas voter who is not an absent uniformed services voter | 0020| constitutes a request for changing information on the certificate | 0021| of registration of any such voter. No absent voter shall be | 0022| permitted to change his party affiliation during those periods | 0023| when change of party affiliation is prohibited by the Election | 0024| Code. Upon delivery or mailing of an absentee ballot to any | 0025| applicant who is a voter, an appropriate designation shall be made | 0001| on the signature line of the signature roster next to the name of | 0002| the person who has been sent an absentee ballot. | 0003| E. If an application for an absentee ballot is delivered | 0004| in person to the county clerk and is accepted, the county clerk | 0005| shall deliver the absentee ballot and it shall be marked by the | 0006| applicant in a voting booth of a type prescribed by the secretary | 0007| of state in the courthouse, sealed in the proper envelopes and | 0008| otherwise properly executed and returned to the county clerk or | 0009| his authorized representative before the applicant leaves the | 0010| office of the county clerk. The act of marking the absentee | 0011| ballot in the office of the county clerk shall be a convenience to | 0012| the voter in the delivery of the absentee ballot and does not make | 0013| the office of the county clerk a polling place subject to the | 0014| requirements of a polling place in the Election Code other than is | 0015| provided in this subsection. It shall be unlawful to solicit | 0016| votes, display or otherwise make accessible any posters, signs or | 0017| other forms of campaign literature whatsoever in the clerk's | 0018| office. Except as provided in Subsection F of this section, | 0019| absentee ballots may be marked in person during the regular hours | 0020| and days of business at the county clerk's office from 8:00 a.m. | 0021| on the fortieth day preceding the election up until 5:00 p.m. on | 0022| the Saturday immediately prior to the date of the election. In | 0023| marking the absentee ballot, the voter may be assisted by one | 0024| person of the voter's [own] choice upon the execution with the | 0025| county clerk of an affidavit for assistance stating [therein] | 0001| that the voter meets at least one of the conditions for receiving | 0002| such assistance as is set forth by the provisions of Section 1-12- | 0003| 12 NMSA 1978. | 0004| F. For a special primary election, and a special United | 0005| States representative election, absentee ballots may be marked in | 0006| person during the regular hours and days of business at the county | 0007| clerk's office from 8:00 a.m. on the fourteenth day preceding the | 0008| election up until 5:00 p.m. on the third day prior to that | 0009| election. | 0010| [F.] G. Absentee ballots shall be airmailed to | 0011| applicants temporarily domiciled inside or outside the continental | 0012| limits of the United States not later than on the Thursday | 0013| immediately prior to the date of the election. | 0014| [G.] H. No absentee ballot shall be delivered or | 0015| mailed to any person other than the applicant for such ballot. | 0016| [H.] I. The county clerk shall accept and process | 0017| with respect to a primary or general election for any federal | 0018| office, any otherwise valid voter registration application from an | 0019| absent uniformed services voter or overseas voter received by | 0020| mail or by facsimile if the application is received not less than | 0021| thirty days before the election. The county clerk shall also | 0022| accept and process federal write-in absentee ballots from overseas | 0023| voters in general elections for federal offices in accordance with | 0024| the provisions of Section 103 of the federal Uniformed and | 0025| Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act. | 0001| J. For a special primary election and a special United | 0002| States representative election, a qualified elector who is a | 0003| member of the United States armed forces or the United States | 0004| merchant marine, a family member of that qualified elector, or a | 0005| qualified elector living outside the United States, may apply for | 0006| an absentee ballot by facsimile. A clerk may send and receive | 0007| facsimile absentee ballots that have been voted from eligible | 0008| qualified electors." | 0009| Section 4. Section 1-6-7 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 1969, Chapter | 0010| 240, Section 133, as amended) is amended to read: | 0011| "1-6-7. FORM OF ABSENTEE BALLOT.--As soon as candidates and | 0012| questions to be voted upon have been determined for each election, | 0013| the county clerk shall procure a supply of suitable absentee | 0014| ballots. The absentee ballot shall be numbered and shall be, as | 0015| nearly as practicable, in the same form as prescribed by the | 0016| secretary of state for emergency ballots. However, to reduce | 0017| weight and bulk for transport of absentee ballots, the size and | 0018| weight of the paper for envelopes, ballots and instructions shall | 0019| be reduced as much as possible. Absentee ballots shall be printed | 0020| at least forty days prior to the date of a primary election and | 0021| forty-nine days prior to the date of a general election. Absentee | 0022| ballots shall be printed and shall be delivered to the county | 0023| clerk at least sixteen days prior to the date of a special primary | 0024| election or a special United States representative election. | 0025| Absentee ballots for any other election shall be printed at least | 0001| thirty-five days prior to the date of the election." | 0002| Section 5. Section 1-6A-5 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 1993, | 0003| Chapter 37, Section 5, as amended) is amended to read: | 0004| "1-6A-5. PROCESSING APPLICATION.-- | 0005| A. The county clerk shall mark each completed | 0006| absentee-early application with the date and time of receipt in | 0007| the clerk's office and enter the required information in the | 0008| absentee ballot register. | 0009| B. If the applicant has no valid affidavit of | 0010| registration on file in the county and he is not a federal | 0011| qualified elector, he shall not be allowed to vote. The county | 0012| clerk shall mark the application "rejected" and file the | 0013| application in a separate file from those accepted. | 0014| C. If the applicant presents proof of identification and | 0015| is determined to be a voter or a federal qualified elector, the | 0016| county clerk shall mark the application "accepted" and deliver a | 0017| marksense ballot or allow the voter to vote on the | 0018| direct-recording electronic machine. Upon acceptance of the | 0019| application, an appropriate designation shall be made on the | 0020| absentee register. | 0021| D. Except as provided in Subsection E of this section, | 0022| absentee-early voting may be done in person during the regular | 0023| hours of business at the county clerk's office or other locations | 0024| specified by the county clerk; provided that in class A counties, | 0025| the county clerk shall establish not less than four alternative | 0001| locations as satellite polling places. Absentee-early voting may | 0002| be done from 8:00 a.m. on the twentieth day preceding the election | 0003| up until 5:00 p.m. on the Saturday immediately prior to the date | 0004| of the election. In voting absentee-early, the voter may be | 0005| assisted by one person of the voter's [own] choice. | 0006| E. Absentee-early voting for a special primary election | 0007| or for a special United States representative election may be done | 0008| at the county clerk's office or other location specified by the | 0009| county clerk. Where less than the entire territory of a class A | 0010| county is included in a district where a special primary election | 0011| or a special United States representative election will be held, | 0012| the number of absentee-early satellite polling places may be | 0013| reduced proportionally, at the discretion of the county clerk. | 0014| Absentee-early voting may be done from 8:00 a.m. on the eleventh | 0015| day preceding the election up until 5:00 p.m. three days prior to | 0016| the date of the election. In voting absentee-early, the voter may | 0017| be assisted by one person of the voter's choice. | 0018| [E.] F. The secretary of state and county clerk | 0019| shall make reasonable efforts to publicize and inform voters of | 0020| the times and locations for absentee-early voting." | 0021| Section 6. Section 1-8-50 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 1977, | 0022| Chapter 322, Section 6, as amended) is amended to read: | 0023| "1-8-50. INDEPENDENT CANDIDATES FOR GENERAL [OR UNITED | 0024| STATES REPRESENTATIVE SPECIAL] ELECTIONS--NOMINATING PETITION | 0025| FORM.-- | 0001| A. As used in Sections [3-8-27.1 through 3-8-27.8 NMSA | 0002| 1953] 1-8-45 through 1-8-52 NMSA 1978, "nominating petition" | 0003| means the form or forms used for obtaining the required number of | 0004| signatures of voters [which] that is signed on behalf of the | 0005| person wishing to become an independent candidate for a political | 0006| office in a general [or United States representative special] | 0007| election requiring a nominating petition. | 0008| B. The nominating petition shall be on paper | 0009| approximately eight and one-half inches wide and fourteen inches | 0010| long with numbered lines for signatures spaced approximately | 0011| three-eighths of an inch apart and shall be in the following form: | 0012| "NOMINATING PETITION FOR INDEPENDENT CANDIDACY | 0013| I, the undersigned, a registered voter of the | 0014| county of ____________________, New Mexico, hereby | 0015| nominate ___________________________________, who | 0016| resides at _________________________ in the county of | 0017| _______________, New Mexico, as an independent | 0018| candidate for the office of _________________________, | 0019| to be voted for at the general election [(United | 0020| States representative special election)] to be held on | 0021| November _____, 19 _____, and I declare that I am a | 0022| resident of the state, district, county or area to be | 0023| 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| __________ | 0006| (usual (name printed (address as (city) | 0007| signature) as registered) registered) | 0008| 2. ______________ _______________ _____________ | 0009| __________ | 0010| (usual (name printed (address as | 0011| (city)." | 0012| signature) as registered) registered) | 0013| C. The secretary of state shall furnish to each | 0014| county clerk a sample of the nominating petition form, a | 0015| copy of which shall be made available by the county clerk | 0016| upon request of any candidate as provided by the Election | 0017| 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. When more than one sheet is required for a | 0022| petition, each of the sheets shall be in the form prescribed | 0023| by this section, and all sheets shall be firmly secured by a | 0024| staple or other suitable fastening." | 0025| Section 7. Section 1-8-52 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 1977, | 0001| Chapter 322, Section 8, as amended) is amended to read: | 0002| "1-8-52. INDEPENDENT CANDIDATES FOR GENERAL OR UNITED | 0003| STATES REPRESENTATIVE SPECIAL ELECTIONS--NOMINATING | 0004| PETITIONS--CIRCULATION--DATE OF FILING.-- | 0005| A. Declarations of independent candidacy [and | 0006| nominating petitions] for a vacancy in the office of | 0007| United States representative shall be filed with the proper | 0008| filing officer during the period commencing at 9:00 a.m. on | 0009| the [second Tuesday of July of each even-numbered year] | 0010| fourteenth day following the issuance of the special | 0011| primary election proclamation and ending at 5:00 p.m. on | 0012| that same day [and not later than 5:00 p.m. on the fifty- | 0013| sixth day preceding any United States representative special | 0014| election]. | 0015| B. Declarations of independent candidacy and | 0016| nominating petitions for the office of president of the | 0017| United States or for any other office to be filled at a | 0018| general election shall be filed with the proper filing | 0019| officer during the period commencing at 9:00 a.m. on the | 0020| fifty-sixth day prior to [the] that general election and | 0021| ending at 5:00 p.m. on the same day." | 0022| Section 8. Section 1-12-19.1 NMSA 1978 (being Laws | 0023| 1981, Chapter 156, Section 2, as amended) is amended to | 0024| read: | 0025| "1-12-19.1. GENERAL ELECTIONS--WRITE-IN CANDIDATES.-- | 0001| A. A person desiring to be a write-in candidate in | 0002| a general election [a special election for United States | 0003| representative] or a statewide special election shall file | 0004| with the proper filing officer a declaration of intent to be | 0005| a write-in candidate. The declaration of intent shall be | 0006| filed between 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. on the sixty-third day | 0007| immediately preceding the election. | 0008| B. The form of the declaration of intent shall be | 0009| prescribed by the secretary of state and shall contain a | 0010| sworn statement by the candidate that he is qualified to be | 0011| a candidate for and to hold the office for which he is | 0012| filing. | 0013| C. At the time of filing the declaration of intent | 0014| to be a write-in candidate, the write-in candidate shall be | 0015| considered a candidate for all purposes and provisions | 0016| relating to candidates in the Election Code, including the | 0017| obligation to report under the Campaign Reporting Act, | 0018| except that he shall not be entitled to have his name | 0019| printed on the ballot. | 0020| D. The secretary of state shall, not less than ten | 0021| days before the general election, certify the names of the | 0022| declared write-in candidates to the county clerks of every | 0023| county affected by such candidacy. | 0024| E. No person shall be a write-in candidate in the | 0025| general election who was a candidate in the primary election | 0001| immediately prior to the general election. | 0002| F. A vote for a write-in candidate shall be | 0003| counted and canvassed only if: | 0004| (1) the name written in is the name of a | 0005| declared write-in candidate and shows two initials and last | 0006| name; first name, middle initial or name and last name; | 0007| first and last name; or the full name as it appears on the | 0008| declaration of intent to be a write-in candidate and | 0009| misspellings of the above combinations that can be | 0010| reasonably determined by a majority of the members of the | 0011| precinct board to identify a declared write-in candidate; | 0012| and | 0013| (2) the name is written in the proper office | 0014| or entered upon the keyboard on the voting machine or on the | 0015| proper line provided on a marksense ballot, absentee ballot | 0016| or emergency paper ballot for write-in votes for the office | 0017| for which the candidate has filed a declaration of intent. | 0018| G. No unopposed write-in candidate shall have his | 0019| election certified unless he receives at least the number of | 0020| write-in votes as he would need signatures on a nominating | 0021| petition pursuant to the requirements in Section 1-8-33 NMSA | 0022| 1978. | 0023| H. A write-in vote shall be cast by writing in the | 0024| name. As used in this section, "write-in" does not include | 0025| the imprinting of any name by rubber stamp or similar device | 0001| or the use of preprinted stickers or labels." | 0002| Section 9. Section 1-13-16 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 1969, | 0003| Chapter 240, Section 319, as amended) is amended to read: | 0004| "1-13-16. POST-ELECTION DUTIES--STATE CANVASS METHOD.-- | 0005| A. The state canvass shall be made from the | 0006| election returns transmitted directly to the secretary of | 0007| state from each of the precinct boards and, in the case of | 0008| candidates voted upon by a district composed of two or more | 0009| counties, from the certificates transmitted by the county | 0010| canvassing boards. | 0011| B. Upon the completion of the canvass, but not | 0012| sooner than the thirty-first day after any primary, general | 0013| or district special election, or the tenth day after any | 0014| special primary election or special United States | 0015| representative election, the state canvassing board shall | 0016| issue to those candidates entitled by law the appropriate | 0017| certificate of election or, in the case of a primary | 0018| election or special primary election, a certificate of | 0019| nomination. | 0020| C. The state canvassing board may designate a | 0021| person or persons to compare the totals appearing on the | 0022| election returns, statements of canvass and certificates and | 0023| to certify the results of their findings to the state | 0024| canvassing board." | 0025| Section 10. Section 1-24-2 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 1989, | 0001| Chapter 295, Section 2) is amended to read: | 0002| "1-24-2. SPECIAL ELECTION PROCEDURES--PROCLAMATION-- | 0003| PUBLICATION.-- | 0004| A. Whenever a special election is to be called or | 0005| is required by law, the governor or the appropriate | 0006| governing body shall by resolution issue a public | 0007| proclamation calling the election. The proclamation shall | 0008| [forthwith] be filed with the secretary of state or with | 0009| the appropriate county clerk. | 0010| B. The proclamation shall specify: | 0011| (1) the date on which the special election | 0012| will be held; | 0013| (2) the purpose for which the special election | 0014| is called; | 0015| (3) if officers are to be elected or positions | 0016| on the governing body are to be filled, the date on which | 0017| declarations of candidacy are to be filed; | 0018| (4) if a question is to be voted upon, the | 0019| [test] text of that question; | 0020| (5) the precincts in each county in which the | 0021| election is to be held and the location of each polling | 0022| place in the precinct; | 0023| (6) the location of each absentee-early | 0024| polling place; | 0025| [(6)] (7) the hours that each polling | 0001| place will be open; and | 0002| [(7)] (8) the date and time of closing the | 0003| registration books by the county clerk as required by law. | 0004| C. After filing the proclamation with the county | 0005| clerk and not less than fifty days before the date of the | 0006| election or twenty days before the date of a special | 0007| primary election, the governing body shall publish the | 0008| proclamation once each week for two consecutive weeks in a | 0009| newspaper of general circulation within the boundaries of | 0010| the local government or special district. The proclamation | 0011| shall conform to the requirements of the federal Voting | 0012| Rights Act of 1965, as amended." | 0013| Section 11. REPEAL.--Section 1-15-18.1 NMSA 1978 (being | 0014| Laws 1983, Chapter 232, Section 16) is repealed. | 0015| Section 12. EMERGENCY.--It is necessary for the public | 0016| peace, health and safety that this act take effect | 0017| immediately. | 0018|  | 0019| | 0020| | 0021| | 0022| FORTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE | 0023| FIRST SESSION, 1997 | 0024| | 0025| | 0001| February 6, 1997 | 0002| | 0003| Mr. President: | 0004| | 0005| Your RULES COMMITTEE, to whom has been referred | 0006| | 0007| SENATE BILL 61 | 0008| | 0009| has had it under consideration and reports same with | 0010| recommendation that it DO NOT PASS, but that | 0011| | 0012| SENATE RULES COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR | 0013| SENATE BILL 61 | 0014| | 0015| | 0016| DO PASS, and thence referred to the FINANCE COMMITTEE. | 0017| | 0018| Respectfully submitted, | 0019| | 0020| | 0021| | 0022| __________________________________ | 0023| Gloria Howes, Chairman | 0024| | 0025| | 0001| Adopted_______________________ Not Adopted_______________________ | 0002| (Chief Clerk) (Chief Clerk) | 0003| | 0004| Date ________________________ | 0005| | 0006| | 0007| The roll call vote was 7 For 0 Against | 0008| Yes: 7 | 0009| No: Altamirano | 0010| Excused: None | 0011| Absent: None | 0012| | 0013| S0061RU1 | 0014| | 0015| FORTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE | 0016| FIRST SESSION, 1997 | 0017| | 0018| | 0019| February 22, 1997 | 0020| | 0021| Mr. President: | 0022| | 0023| Your FINANCE COMMITTEE, to whom has been referred | 0024| | 0025| SENATE RULES COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR | 0001| SENATE BILL 61 | 0002| | 0003| has had it under consideration and reports same with recommendation | 0004| that it DO NOT PASS, but that | 0005| | 0006| SENATE FINANCE COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR | 0007| SENATE RULES COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR | 0008| SENATE BILL 61 | 0009| | 0010| DO PASS. | 0011| Respectfully submitted, | 0012| | 0013| | 0014| | 0015| __________________________________ | 0016| Ben D. Altamirano, Chairman | 0017| | 0018| | 0019| Adopted_______________________ Not Adopted_______________________ | 0020| (Chief Clerk) (Chief Clerk) | 0021| | 0022| | 0023| Date ________________________ | 0024| | 0025| | 0001| The roll call vote was 7 For 0 Against | 0002| Yes: 7 | 0003| No: None | 0004| Excused: Aragon, Carraro, Lyons, Romero | 0005| Absent: None | 0006| | 0007| | 0008| S0061FC1 | 0009| SENATE FINANCE COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR | 0010| SENATE RULES COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR | 0011| SENATE BILL 61 | 0012| 43rd legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - first session, 1997 | 0013| | 0014| | 0015| | 0016| | 0017| | 0018| | 0019| | 0020| AN ACT | 0021| RELATING TO ELECTIONS; PROVIDING FOR A SPECIAL PRIMARY ELECTION | 0022| FOR THE OFFICE OF UNITED STATES REPRESENTATIVE; AMENDING AND | 0023| ENACTING SECTIONS OF THE ELECTION CODE; DECLARING AN EMERGENCY. | 0024| | 0025| BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO: | 0001| Section 1. A new section of the Election Code is enacted | 0002| to read: | 0003| "[NEW MATERIAL] UNITED STATES REPRESENTATIVE--VACANCY-- | 0004| SPECIAL ELECTION AND SPECIAL PRIMARY ELECTION DUTIES.-- | 0005| A. The secretary of state shall publish the | 0006| proclamation calling the special primary election and the | 0007| United States representative special election immediately in | 0008| two major newspapers of general circulation in the | 0009| congressional district and shall send an authenticated copy of | 0010| the proclamation to each county clerk by certified mail or by | 0011| facsimile. | 0012| B. Each county clerk shall either publish the | 0013| proclamation in a newspaper of general circulation in the | 0014| county or shall print and post the proclamation in English and | 0015| Spanish in six prominent places in the county." | 0016| Section 2. A new section of the Election Code is enacted | 0017| to read: | 0018| "[NEW MATERIAL] UNITED STATES REPRESENTATIVE--VACANCY-- | 0019| SPECIAL ELECTION AND SPECIAL PRIMARY ELECTION--FILING FEE AND | 0020| DECLARATION OF CANDIDACY.--A candidate seeking the office of | 0021| United States representative in a special primary election | 0022| shall file either a declaration of candidacy accompanied by a | 0023| filing fee of two hundred eighty dollars ($280) or a | 0024| declaration of candidacy accompanied by a pauper's statement | 0025| with the secretary of state. The pauper's statement shall be | 0001| sworn and subscribed to on a form prescribed by the secretary | 0002| of state." | 0003| Section 3. Section 1-6-5 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 1969, | 0004| Chapter 240, Section 131, as amended by Laws 1993, Chapter 314, | 0005| Section 43 and also by Laws 1993, Chapter 316, Section 43) is | 0006| amended to read: | 0007| "1-6-5. PROCESSING APPLICATION--ISSUANCE OF | 0008| BALLOT [MAKING] MARKING AND DELIVERY OF BALLOT IN PERSON.-- | 0009| A. The county clerk shall mark each completed | 0010| absentee ballot application with the date and time of receipt | 0011| in the clerk's office and enter the required information in the | 0012| absentee ballot register. The county clerk shall then determine | 0013| if the applicant is a voter, an absent uniformed services voter or | 0014| an overseas voter. | 0015| B. If the applicant has no valid certificate of | 0016| registration on file in the county and he is not a federal | 0017| qualified elector or if the applicant states he is a federal | 0018| qualified elector but his application indicates he is not a | 0019| federal qualified elector, no absentee ballot shall be issued and | 0020| the county clerk shall mark the application "rejected" and file | 0021| the application in a separate file from those accepted. | 0022| C. The county clerk shall notify in writing each | 0023| applicant of the fact of acceptance or rejection of his | 0024| application and, if rejected, shall explain why the application | 0025| was rejected. | 0001| D. If the applicant is determined to be a voter or a | 0002| federal qualified elector, the county clerk shall mark the | 0003| application "accepted" and deliver or mail to the applicant an | 0004| absentee ballot and the required envelopes for use in returning | 0005| the ballot. Acceptance of an application of a federal qualified | 0006| elector constitutes registration for the election in which the | 0007| ballot is to be cast. Acceptance of an application from an | 0008| overseas voter who is not an absent uniformed services voter | 0009| constitutes a request for changing information on the certificate | 0010| of registration of any such voter. No absent voter shall be | 0011| permitted to change his party affiliation during those periods | 0012| when change of party affiliation is prohibited by the Election | 0013| Code. Upon delivery or mailing of an absentee ballot to any | 0014| applicant who is a voter, an appropriate designation shall be made | 0015| on the signature line of the signature roster next to the name of | 0016| the person who has been sent an absentee ballot. | 0017| E. If an application for an absentee ballot is delivered | 0018| in person to the county clerk and is accepted, the county clerk | 0019| shall deliver the absentee ballot and it shall be marked by the | 0020| applicant in a voting booth of a type prescribed by the secretary | 0021| of state in the courthouse, sealed in the proper envelopes and | 0022| otherwise properly executed and returned to the county clerk or | 0023| his authorized representative before the applicant leaves the | 0024| office of the county clerk. The act of marking the absentee | 0025| ballot in the office of the county clerk shall be a convenience to | 0001| the voter in the delivery of the absentee ballot and does not make | 0002| the office of the county clerk a polling place subject to the | 0003| requirements of a polling place in the Election Code other than is | 0004| provided in this subsection. It shall be unlawful to solicit | 0005| votes, display or otherwise make accessible any posters, signs or | 0006| other forms of campaign literature whatsoever in the clerk's | 0007| office. Except as provided in Subsection F of this section, | 0008| absentee ballots may be marked in person during the regular hours | 0009| and days of business at the county clerk's office from 8:00 a.m. | 0010| on the fortieth day preceding the election up until 5:00 p.m. on | 0011| the Saturday immediately prior to the date of the election. In | 0012| marking the absentee ballot, the voter may be assisted by one | 0013| person of the voter's [own] choice upon the execution with the | 0014| county clerk of an affidavit for assistance stating [therein] | 0015| that the voter meets at least one of the conditions for receiving | 0016| such assistance as is set forth by the provisions of Section 1-12- | 0017| 12 NMSA 1978. | 0018| F. For a special primary election and a United States | 0019| representative special election, absentee ballots may be marked in | 0020| person during the regular hours and days of business at the county | 0021| clerk's office from 8:00 a.m. on the fourteenth day preceding the | 0022| election up until 5:00 p.m. on the third day prior to that | 0023| election. | 0024| [F.] G. Absentee ballots shall be airmailed or sent | 0025| by facsimile to applicants temporarily domiciled inside or | 0001| outside the continental limits of the United States not later than | 0002| on the Thursday immediately prior to the date of the election. | 0003| [G.] H. No absentee ballot shall be delivered, sent | 0004| by facsimile or mailed to any person other than the applicant for | 0005| such ballot. | 0006| [H.] I. 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 received by | 0010| mail or by facsimile if the application is received not less than | 0011| [thirty] ten days before the election. The county clerk shall | 0012| also accept and process federal write-in absentee ballots from | 0013| overseas voters in general elections for federal offices in | 0014| accordance with the provisions of Section 103 of the federal | 0015| Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act. | 0016| J. For a special primary election or a United States | 0017| representative special election, a qualified elector who is a | 0018| member of the United States armed forces or the United States | 0019| merchant marine, a family member of that qualified elector, or a | 0020| qualified elector living outside the United States, may apply for | 0021| an absentee ballot by facsimile. If the application for an | 0022| absentee ballot is received not less than ten days before the | 0023| election, the clerk may send a facsimile absentee ballot to a | 0024| qualified elector and the qualified elector may return the voted | 0025| absentee ballot by facsimile." | 0001| Section 4. Section 1-6-7 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 1969, Chapter | 0002| 240, Section 133, as amended) is amended to read: | 0003| "1-6-7. FORM OF ABSENTEE BALLOT.--As soon as candidates and | 0004| questions to be voted upon have been determined for each election, | 0005| the county clerk shall procure a supply of suitable absentee | 0006| ballots. The absentee ballot shall be numbered and shall be, as | 0007| nearly as practicable, in the same form as prescribed by the | 0008| secretary of state for emergency ballots. However, to reduce | 0009| weight and bulk for transport of absentee ballots, the size and | 0010| weight of the paper for envelopes, ballots and instructions shall | 0011| be reduced as much as possible. Absentee ballots shall be printed | 0012| at least forty days prior to the date of a primary election and | 0013| forty-nine days prior to the date of a general election. Absentee | 0014| ballots shall be printed and shall be delivered to the county | 0015| clerk at least sixteen days prior to the date of a special primary | 0016| election or a United States representative special election. | 0017| Absentee ballots for any other election shall be printed at least | 0018| thirty-five days prior to the date of the election." | 0019| Section 5. Section 1-6A-5 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 1993, | 0020| Chapter 37, Section 5, as amended) is amended to read: | 0021| "1-6A-5. PROCESSING APPLICATION.-- | 0022| A. The county clerk shall mark each completed | 0023| absentee-early application with the date and time of receipt in | 0024| the clerk's office and enter the required information in the | 0025| absentee ballot register. | 0001| B. If the applicant has no valid affidavit of | 0002| registration on file in the county and he is not a federal | 0003| qualified elector, he shall not be allowed to vote. The county | 0004| clerk shall mark the application "rejected" and file the | 0005| application in a separate file from those accepted. | 0006| C. If the applicant presents proof of identification and | 0007| is determined to be a voter or a federal qualified elector, the | 0008| county clerk shall mark the application "accepted" and deliver a | 0009| marksense ballot or allow the voter to vote on the | 0010| direct-recording electronic machine. Upon acceptance of the | 0011| application, an appropriate designation shall be made on the | 0012| absentee register. | 0013| D. Except as provided in Subsection E of this section, | 0014| absentee-early voting may be done in person during the regular | 0015| hours of business at the county clerk's office or other locations | 0016| specified by the county clerk; provided that in class A counties, | 0017| the county clerk shall establish not less than four alternative | 0018| locations [as satellite polling places]. Absentee-early voting | 0019| may be done from 8:00 a.m. on the twentieth day preceding the | 0020| election up until 5:00 p.m. on the Saturday immediately prior to | 0021| the date of the election. In voting absentee-early, the voter may | 0022| be assisted by one person of the voter's [own] choice. | 0023| E. Absentee-early voting for a special primary election | 0024| or for a United States representative special election may be done | 0025| at the county clerk's office or other location specified by the | 0001| county clerk. Where less than the entire territory of a class A | 0002| county is included in a district where a special primary election | 0003| or a United States representative special election will be held, | 0004| the number of absentee-early alternative locations may be reduced | 0005| proportionally, at the discretion of the county clerk. Absentee- | 0006| early voting may be done from 8:00 a.m. on the eleventh day | 0007| preceding the election up until 5:00 p.m. three days prior to the | 0008| date of the election. In voting absentee-early, the voter may be | 0009| assisted by one person of the voter's choice. | 0010| [E.] F. The secretary of state and county clerk | 0011| shall make reasonable efforts to publicize and inform voters of | 0012| the times and locations for absentee-early voting." | 0013| Section 5. Section 1-8-50 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 1977, | 0014| Chapter 322, Section 6, as amended) is amended to read: | 0015| "1-8-50. INDEPENDENT CANDIDATES FOR GENERAL [OR UNITED | 0016| STATES REPRESENTATIVE SPECIAL] ELECTIONS--NOMINATING PETITION | 0017| FORM.-- | 0018| A. As used in Sections [3-8-27.1 through 3-8-27.8 NMSA | 0019| 1953] 1-8-45 through 1-8-52 NMSA 1978, "nominating petition" | 0020| means the form or forms used for obtaining the required number of | 0021| signatures of voters [which] that is signed on behalf of the | 0022| person wishing to become an independent candidate for a political | 0023| office in a general [or United States representative special] | 0024| election requiring a nominating petition. | 0025| B. The nominating petition shall be on paper | 0001| approximately eight and one-half inches wide and fourteen inches | 0002| long with numbered lines for signatures spaced approximately | 0003| three-eighths of an inch apart and shall be in the following form: | 0004| "NOMINATING PETITION FOR INDEPENDENT CANDIDACY | 0005| I, the undersigned, a registered voter of the | 0006| county of ____________________, New Mexico, hereby | 0007| nominate ___________________________________, who | 0008| resides at _________________________ in the county of | 0009| _______________, New Mexico, as an independent | 0010| candidate for the office of _________________________, | 0011| to be voted for at the general election [(United | 0012| States representative special election)] to be held on | 0013| November _____, 19 _____, and I declare that I am a | 0014| resident of the state, district, county or area to be | 0015| represented by the office for which the person being | 0016| nominated is a candidate. I also declare that I have | 0017| not signed, and will not sign, any nominating petition | 0018| for more persons than the number of candidates | 0019| necessary to fill such office at the next ensuing | 0020| general election. | 0021| 1. ______________ _______________ _____________ | 0022| __________ | 0023| (usual (name printed (address as (city) | 0024| signature) as registered) registered) | 0025| 2. ______________ _______________ _____________ | 0001| __________ | 0002| (usual (name printed (address as | 0003| (city)." | 0004| signature) as registered) registered) | 0005| C. The secretary of state shall furnish to each | 0006| county clerk a sample of the nominating petition form, a | 0007| copy of which shall be made available by the county clerk | 0008| upon request of any candidate as provided by the Election | 0009| Code. | 0010| D. The signature of the voter shall not be counted | 0011| unless the entire line is filled out in full and is upon the | 0012| form prescribed by this section. | 0013| E. When more than one sheet is required for a | 0014| petition, each of the sheets shall be in the form prescribed | 0015| by this section, and all sheets shall be firmly secured by a | 0016| staple or other suitable fastening." | 0017| Section 6. Section 1-8-52 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 1977, | 0018| Chapter 322, Section 8, as amended) is amended to read: | 0019| "1-8-52. INDEPENDENT CANDIDATES FOR GENERAL OR UNITED | 0020| STATES REPRESENTATIVE SPECIAL ELECTIONS--NOMINATING | 0021| PETITIONS--CIRCULATION--DATE OF FILING.-- | 0022| A. Declarations of independent candidacy [and | 0023| nominating petitions] for a vacancy in the office of | 0024| United States representative shall be filed with the | 0025| [proper filing officer] secretary of state during the | 0001| period commencing at 9:00 a.m. on the [second Tuesday of | 0002| July of each even-numbered year] fourteenth day following | 0003| the issuance of the special primary election proclamation | 0004| and ending at 5:00 p.m. on that same day [and not later | 0005| than 5:00 p.m. on the fifty-sixth day preceding any United | 0006| States representative special election]. | 0007| B. Declarations of independent candidacy and | 0008| nominating petitions for the office of president of the | 0009| United States or for any other office to be filled at a | 0010| general election shall be filed with the proper filing | 0011| officer during the period commencing at 9:00 a.m. on the | 0012| fifty-sixth day prior to [the] that general election and | 0013| ending at 5:00 p.m. on the same day." | 0014| Section 7. Section 1-12-19.1 NMSA 1978 (being Laws | 0015| 1981, Chapter 156, Section 2, as amended) is amended to | 0016| read: | 0017| "1-12-19.1. GENERAL ELECTIONS--WRITE-IN CANDIDATES.-- | 0018| A. A person desiring to be a write-in candidate in | 0019| a general election [a special election for United States | 0020| representative] or a statewide special election shall file | 0021| with the proper filing officer a declaration of intent to be | 0022| a write-in candidate. The declaration of intent shall be | 0023| filed between 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. on the sixty-third day | 0024| immediately preceding the election. | 0025| B. The form of the declaration of intent shall be | 0001| prescribed by the secretary of state and shall contain a | 0002| sworn statement by the candidate that he is qualified to be | 0003| a candidate for and to hold the office for which he is | 0004| filing. | 0005| C. At the time of filing the declaration of intent | 0006| to be a write-in candidate, the write-in candidate shall be | 0007| considered a candidate for all purposes and provisions | 0008| relating to candidates in the Election Code, including the | 0009| obligation to report under the Campaign Reporting Act, | 0010| except that he shall not be entitled to have his name | 0011| printed on the ballot. | 0012| D. The secretary of state shall, not less than ten | 0013| days before the general election, certify the names of the | 0014| declared write-in candidates to the county clerks of every | 0015| county affected by such candidacy. | 0016| E. No person shall be a write-in candidate in the | 0017| general election who was a candidate in the primary election | 0018| immediately prior to the general election. | 0019| F. A vote for a write-in candidate shall be | 0020| counted and canvassed only if: | 0021| (1) the name written in is the name of a | 0022| declared write-in candidate and shows two initials and last | 0023| name; first name, middle initial or name and last name; | 0024| first and last name; or the full name as it appears on the | 0025| declaration of intent to be a write-in candidate and | 0001| misspellings of the above combinations that can be | 0002| reasonably determined by a majority of the members of the | 0003| precinct board to identify a declared write-in candidate; | 0004| and | 0005| (2) the name is written in the proper office | 0006| or entered upon the keyboard on the voting machine or on the | 0007| proper line provided on a marksense ballot, absentee ballot | 0008| or emergency paper ballot for write-in votes for the office | 0009| for which the candidate has filed a declaration of intent. | 0010| G. No unopposed write-in candidate shall have his | 0011| election certified unless he receives at least the number of | 0012| write-in votes as he would need signatures on a nominating | 0013| petition pursuant to the requirements in Section 1-8-33 NMSA | 0014| 1978. | 0015| H. A write-in vote shall be cast by writing in the | 0016| name. As used in this section, "write-in" does not include | 0017| the imprinting of any name by rubber stamp or similar device | 0018| or the use of preprinted stickers or labels." | 0019| Section 8. Section 1-13-16 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 1969, | 0020| Chapter 240, Section 319, as amended) is amended to read: | 0021| "1-13-16. POST-ELECTION DUTIES--STATE CANVASS METHOD.-- | 0022| A. The state canvass shall be made from the | 0023| election returns transmitted directly to the secretary of | 0024| state from each of the precinct boards and, in the case of | 0025| candidates voted upon by a district composed of two or more | 0001| counties, from the certificates transmitted by the county | 0002| canvassing boards. | 0003| B. Upon the completion of the canvass, but not | 0004| sooner than the thirty-first day after any primary, general | 0005| or district special election, or the tenth day after any | 0006| special primary election or United States representative | 0007| special election, the state canvassing board shall issue to | 0008| those candidates entitled by law the appropriate certificate | 0009| of election or, in the case of a primary election or | 0010| special primary election, a certificate of nomination. | 0011| C. The state canvassing board may designate a | 0012| person or persons to compare the totals appearing on the | 0013| election returns, statements of canvass and certificates and | 0014| to certify the results of their findings to the state | 0015| canvassing board." | 0016| Section 9. Section 1-15-18.1 NMSA 1978 (being Laws | 0017| 1983, Chapter 232, Section 16) is amended to read: | 0018| "1-15-18.1. UNITED STATES REPRESENTATIVE--VACANCY.-- | 0019| A. Except as provided in Subsection E of this | 0020| section, ten days after a vacancy occurs in the office of | 0021| United States representative the governor shall, by | 0022| proclamation, call a special primary election and a | 0023| special election [to be held not less than eighty-four nor | 0024| more than ninety-one days after the date of the vacancy for | 0025| the purpose of filling the vacancy, except as provided in | 0001| Subsection E of this section. | 0002| B. Upon the issuance of the governor's | 0003| proclamation, each qualified political party may nominate in | 0004| the manner provided by the rules of that party a candidate | 0005| to fill the vacancy in the office of United States | 0006| representative; provided that such nomination is certified | 0007| to the secretary of state by the state chairman of that | 0008| party no later than 5:00 p.m. on the fifty-sixth day | 0009| preceding the date of the special election]. Not more than | 0010| sixty days after the issuance of the proclamation a special | 0011| primary election shall be conducted and not more than ninety | 0012| days after the issuance of the proclamation a United States | 0013| representative special election shall be conducted in the | 0014| congressional district in which the vacancy has occurred. | 0015| B. Major party candidates for the special primary | 0016| election shall file a declaration of candidacy between the | 0017| hours of 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. on the fourteenth day | 0018| following the issuance of the election proclamation. | 0019| Nominations by minor political parties may be certified in | 0020| writing to the secretary of state by the chairman and | 0021| secretary of the minor party; provided that any | 0022| certification shall be filed with the secretary of state no | 0023| less than seven days after the special primary election. | 0024| C. Declarations of independent candidacy to fill | 0025| the vacancy in the office of United States representative | 0001| [and nominating petitions pertaining thereto] shall be | 0002| [filed with the secretary of state no later than 5:00 p.m. | 0003| on the fifty-sixth day preceding the date of the special | 0004| election] made in the manner provided in Section 1-8-52 | 0005| NMSA 1978. | 0006| D. Special elections called for the purpose of | 0007| filling a vacancy in the office of United States | 0008| representative shall be conducted in accordance with the | 0009| provisions of the Election Code; provided, however, if there | 0010| is a conflict between this section and other provisions of | 0011| the Election Code, the provisions of this section shall | 0012| control. | 0013| E. If a vacancy occurs in the office of United | 0014| States representative after the date of the regular | 0015| primary election and before the date of the general election | 0016| of that same year, such vacancy shall be filled at that | 0017| general election of the same year. Candidates seeking the | 0018| office of United States representative in such general | 0019| election for the next succeeding term shall be deemed to be | 0020| candidates for the unexpired term as well, and the candidate | 0021| elected shall take office upon the certification of the | 0022| election results." | 0023| Section 10. EMERGENCY.--It is necessary for the public | 0024| peace, health and safety that this act take effect | 0025| immediately. | 0001|  |