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F I S C A L I M P A C T R E P O R T





SPONSOR: Rodriguez DATE TYPED: 03/07/01 HB
SHORT TITLE: NM Electoral System SB SM 25
ANALYST: Woodlee


APPROPRIATION



Appropriation Contained
Estimated Additional Impact
 Recurring

or Non-Rec

 Fund

Affected

FY01 FY02 FY01 FY02
NFI NFI NFI NFI NFI NFI



(Parenthesis ( ) Indicate Expenditure Decreases)



Relates to House Joint Memorial 54



SUMMARY



Synopsis of Bill



Senate Memorial 25 expresses the commitment of the New Mexico State Senate to voting rights enforcement. It encourages the study and reform of the New Mexico electoral system and to encourage local governments to place more emphasis on elections administration.



Significant Issues



The memorial points out that the limited problems of New Mexico's 2000 general election are being resolved and that the election ran successfully due to the hard work of the thirty-three county clerks.



The memorial indicates that the New Mexico Senate is committed to the strict enforcement and extension of the federal Voting Rights Act. The memorial states that the Voting Rights Act of 1965 should be extended so that many of its provisions do not cease in 2007, and encourages the U.S. Congress to extend these provisions. The New Mexico Senate, according to the joint memorial, pledges that this type of harassment or disenfranchisement will not be tolerated in this state. The memorial indicates the commitment of the Senate to the study of electoral reform and encourages local governments to place more emphasis on election administration. A copy of the memorial is to be forwarded to the state chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), the New Mexico Hispanic Roundtable, the All Indian Pueblo Council, and the New Mexico Voter Services Coalition.







FISCAL IMPLICATIONS



There is no appropriation or significant fiscal implication associated with this memorial.



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