HOUSE BILL 208

57th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - first session, 2025

INTRODUCED BY

Rebecca Dow and Harlan Vincent and Jack Chatfield

and Mark B. Murphy and Mark Duncan

AN ACT

RELATING TO ELECTIONS; ALLOWING A QUALIFIED ELECTOR APPLYING FOR A HUNTING OR FISHING LICENSE TO REGISTER TO VOTE AT THE DEPARTMENT OF GAME AND FISH.

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

     SECTION 1. Section 1-4-5.2 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 1995, Chapter 198, Section 3, as amended) is amended to read:

     "1-4-5.2. AGENCY REGISTRATION--FORM.--

          A. A qualified elector may register to vote at certain state government offices.

          B. Pursuant to Section 1-4-47 NMSA 1978, a qualified elector who applies for a driver's license, license renewal or motor vehicle identification card who is not registered to vote in this state and who is not automatically registered to vote pursuant to the automatic voter registration provisions of Section 1-4-47 NMSA 1978 may simultaneously register to vote or file a change of address for voter registration purposes.

          C. Pursuant to Section 1-4-48 NMSA 1978, a qualified elector may register to vote: [in]

                (1) at any state agency that provides public assistance or services to persons with disabilities. The secretary of state may designate other state or local public offices with the agreement of those offices; or

                (2) through the department of game and fish at the time the qualified elector applies for a hunting or fishing license pursuant to Subsection A of Section 17-3-5 NMSA 1978.

          D. Pursuant to Sections 1-4-47 and 1-4-47.1 NMSA 1978, a qualified elector may become registered to vote by automatic voter registration at the motor vehicle division of the taxation and revenue department or other state or local public offices designated by the secretary of state."

     SECTION 2. Section 1-4-48 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 1995, Chapter 198, Section 13, as amended) is amended to read:

     "1-4-48. STATE-AGENCY-BASED VOTER REGISTRATION PROGRAM--ESTABLISHED--[HUMAN SERVICES] HEALTH CARE AUTHORITY--DEPARTMENT OF GAME AND FISH.--

          A. The secretary of state shall adopt and publish in accordance with the State Rules Act rules for the administration of a state-agency-based voter registration program. The rules shall provide for distribution of voter registration forms, provisions for the acceptance of voter registration forms and procedures for reporting voter registration activity in accordance with the federal National Voter Registration Act of 1993.

          B. Voter registration shall be made available:

                (1) at all state agencies providing public assistance or services to people with disabilities. The secretary of state may designate other state and local public offices to provide voter registration services with the agreement of those offices; or

                (2) through the department of game and fish by a license vendor appointed and authorized by the director of the department of game and fish to accept applications and issue licenses for hunting or fishing.

          C. Each state agency participating in the voter registration program shall maintain sufficient records for the secretary of state to comply with federal voter registration reporting requirements and the federal Help America Vote Act of 2002. Any records maintained by a state agency regarding voter registration activities in that agency are confidential and shall not be released as public records.

          D. Any voter registration made or accepted at a state agency pursuant to this section shall be transmitted to the appropriate registration officer within ten calendar days.

          E. A state agency employee or agency contractor who participates in the voter registration process may not intentionally influence the prospective registrant in the selection of political party, or independent status, by word or act. A state agency employee or agency contractor who participates in the voter registration process may not reveal the existence of or the nature of the voter registration to anyone other than a registration officer.

          F. The [human services department] health care authority shall develop procedures to be approved by the secretary of state to ensure that each benefit program administered by the department appropriately ensures that qualified electors receiving benefits are offered the opportunity to register to vote or update an existing certificate of registration without duplication of information contained by the department or by the secretary of state. No later than the last day of August of each calendar year, the [human services department] health care authority shall issue an annual report detailing implementation of the requirements of this subsection. The report shall be sent to the legislative council service, the secretary of state and each county clerk.

          G. If a person who is not a qualified elector becomes registered to vote pursuant to this section, the person's registration shall be canceled and the person shall be deemed to have never registered."

     SECTION 3. EFFECTIVE DATE.--The effective date of the provisions of this act is July 1, 2025.

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