HOUSE BILL 28

53rd legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - first session, 2017

INTRODUCED BY

Patricia Roybal Caballero

AN ACT

RELATING TO ELECTIONS; PROVIDING FOR THE AUTOMATIC REGISTRATION OF QUALIFIED ELECTORS WHO HAVE A DRIVER'S LICENSE OR IDENTIFICATION CARD ISSUED BY THE STATE.

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

     SECTION 1. A new section of the Election Code is enacted to read:

     "[NEW MATERIAL] DRIVER'S LICENSE AUTOMATIC VOTER REGISTRATION.--

          A. The secretary of state shall by rule establish a schedule by which the motor vehicle division of the taxation and revenue department shall provide the secretary electronic records containing the legal name, birth date, resident address, social security number, citizenship status and electronic signature of each person who has that information on file with the division.

          B. The secretary of state shall provide to the county clerk of the county in which the person is eligible to register to vote the person's information received by the secretary from the division. The county clerk shall notify each such person that is not yet registered to vote of the procedure by which the person may decline being registered to vote and how the person may select a political party affiliation if the person so chooses.

          C. If a person notified pursuant to Subsection B of this section does not decline to be registered to vote within twenty-one days after the county clerk issues notification, the person's electronic record and signature will constitute a completed certificate of registration. If the county clerk determines that the person is a qualified elector and not already registered to vote, the county clerk shall print and file a copy of the person's certificate of registration in the county's register of voters and enter the person's information into the state voter file.

          D. If a person who is registered to vote in accordance with the provisions of this section does not select a political party affiliation, the person's certificate of registration shall indicate that the person has declined to state a political party preference."

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