44TH LEGISLATURE - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - FIRST SESSION, 1999

PROPOSING AN AMENDMENT TO ARTICLE 7, SECTION 1 OF THE CONSTITUTION OF NEW MEXICO TO BAR POLITICAL PARTIES AND CANDIDATES FOR ELECTIVE OFFICE FROM SOLICITING ABSENTEE VOTING.

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

Section 1. It is proposed to amend Article 7, Section 1 of the constitution of New Mexico to read:

"Every citizen of the United States, who is over the age of twenty-one years, and has resided in New Mexico twelve months, in the county ninety days, and in the precinct in which he offers to vote thirty days, next preceding the election, except idiots, insane persons and persons convicted of a felonious or infamous crime unless restored to political rights, shall be qualified to vote at all elections for public officers. The legislature may enact laws providing for absentee voting by qualified electors, provided that only the voter may request an application for an absentee ballot from the county clerk and only the county clerk's office may provide the application to the voter. All school elections shall be held at different times from other elections.

The legislature shall have the power to require the registration of the qualified electors as a requisite for voting, and shall regulate the manner, time and places of voting. The legislature shall enact such laws as will secure the secrecy of the ballot, the purity of elections and guard against the abuse of elective franchise. Not more than two members of the board of registration, and not more than two judges of election shall belong to the same political party at the time of their appointment."

Section 2. The amendment proposed by this resolution shall be submitted to the people for their approval or rejection at the next general election or at any special election prior to that date which may be called for that purpose.