45th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - first session, 2001

RELATING TO ELECTIONS; REQUIRING THAT SAMPLE BALLOTS BE AVAILABLE AT LEAST FORTY DAYS BEFORE AN ELECTION.

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

Section 1. Section 1-10-10 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 1969, Chapter 240, Section 209, as amended) is amended to read:

"1-10-10. BALLOTS--SAMPLE.--

A. At the time of printing the official ballots, the county clerk shall cause to be printed in both English and Spanish a number of sample ballots in a quantity equal to ten percent of the number of voters in each precinct.

B. The sample ballots shall be the same in all respects as the official ballots, except that they shall be printed on colored paper and shall not contain the facsimile signature of the county clerk or any endorsement on the back thereof. Each sample ballot shall be marked in large black capital letters, "SAMPLE BALLOT".

C. Sample ballots shall be made available at least forty days before an election in reasonable quantities to all interested persons for distribution to the voters within the appropriate precincts.

D. Nothing in this section shall preclude any person from having printed at his own expense sample ballots."