SENATE BILL 1

48th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - second session, 2008

INTRODUCED BY

Michael S. Sanchez

AN ACT

RELATING TO ELECTIONS; PROVIDING CANDIDATES WHO FAIL TO RECEIVE PREPRIMARY CONVENTION DESIGNATION AN ALTERNATIVE METHOD OF GAINING PRIMARY BALLOT ACCESS; DECLARING AN EMERGENCY.

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

     Section 1. Section 1-8-33 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 1973, Chapter 228, Section 7, as amended) is amended to read:

     "1-8-33. PRIMARY ELECTION LAW--NOMINATING PETITION-- NUMBER OF SIGNATURES REQUIRED.--

          A. As used in this section, "total vote" means the sum of all votes cast for all of the party's candidates for governor at the last preceding primary election at which the party's candidate for governor was nominated.

          B. Candidates who seek preprimary convention designation shall file nominating petitions at the time of filing declarations of candidacy. Nominating petitions for those candidates shall be signed by a number of voters equal to at least two percent of the total vote of the candidate's party in the state or congressional district, or the following number of voters, whichever is greater: for statewide offices, two hundred thirty voters; and for congressional candidates, seventy-seven voters.

          C. Nominating petitions for candidates for any other office to be voted on at the primary election for which nominating petitions are required shall be signed by a number of voters equal to at least three percent of the total vote of the candidate's party in the district or division, or the following number of voters, whichever is greater: for metropolitan court and magistrate courts, ten voters; for the public regulation commission, fifty voters; for the public education commission, twenty-five voters; for state representative, ten voters; for state senator, seventeen voters; and for district attorney and district judge, fifteen voters.

          D. A candidate who fails to receive the preprimary convention designation that the candidate sought may collect additional signatures to total at least four percent of the total vote of the candidate's party in the state or congressional district, whichever applies to the office the candidate seeks, and file a new declaration of candidacy and nominating petitions for the office for which the candidate failed to receive a preprimary designation. The declaration of candidacy and nominating petitions shall be filed with the secretary of state either ten days following the date of the preprimary convention at which the candidate failed to receive the designation or on the date all declarations of candidacy and nominating petitions are due pursuant to the provisions of the Primary Election Law, whichever is later."

     Section 2. EMERGENCY.--It is necessary for the public peace, health and safety that this act take effect immediately.

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