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

ENCOURAGING STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS TO PLACE MORE EMPHASIS ON ELECTIONS ADMINISTRATION IN NEW MEXICO.

WHEREAS, the legislature is a diverse body of lawmakers who come from all cultures to serve as a part-time citizen legislature, and achieve the status of legislator through election by the people; therefore, we in the legislature have a unique perspective and primary interest in improving voting procedures at the federal, state, tribal, county and municipal levels; and

WHEREAS, New Mexico guarantees its citizenry that the principles of "one person, one vote", "every vote is counted" and "each voter shall have equal access to the ballot" are the foundation of a free and democratic government; and

WHEREAS, the November 7, 2000 presidential election was one of the most unusual and controversial elections in our nation's history, and because of the narrow margin of victory, it received nationwide scrutiny for all of its irregularities; and

WHEREAS, the secretary of state is New Mexico's chief election officer and is responsible for the constitutional requirement of a "fair and open" administration of the Election Code; and the employees of the office of the secretary of state have worked long hours to improve and ensure integrity in New Mexico's election processes and should be recognized for their service and dedication; and

WHEREAS, the state's thirty-three county clerks are delegated the responsibility for elections administration at the county level, and the employees of the county clerks' office have worked long hours to improve and ensure integrity in New Mexico's election processes and should be recognized for their service and dedication; and

WHEREAS, the state's one hundred two municipalities have municipal clerks who are delegated the responsibility for elections administration at the municipal level, and the employees of the municipal clerks' office have worked long hours to improve and ensure integrity in New Mexico's election processes and should be recognized for their service and dedication; and

WHEREAS, election workers from time to time come across information about election fraud, computer errors and other election mistakes that need to be brought forward to the citizens of New Mexico. These public employees and their managers must be made aware of how important their watchdog activities are and that statutes exist to protect whistle blowers; and

WHEREAS, the legislature intends to adequately fund the office of the secretary of state to provide training, ethics administration, standardization and testing of equipment and procedures for local units of government; and

WHEREAS, the legislature recognizes that county commissioners and elected officials in municipalities must be willing to approve increased funding for improvements to our local election processes, knowing that having a record of fair elections makes New Mexico a more desirable place in which to live;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that state and local governments be encouraged to place more emphasis on elections administration within the great state of New Mexico; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this memorial be transmitted to the New Mexico association of counties, the New Mexico municipal league and the national association of secretaries of state.