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

EXPRESSING THE NEW MEXICO STATE SENATE'S COMMITMENT TO VOTING RIGHTS ENFORCEMENT AND TO ENCOURAGE STUDY AND REFORM OF THE ELECTORAL SYSTEM IN NEW MEXICO.

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 close results, it received nationwide scrutiny to identify the irregularities that occurred; and

WHEREAS, the problems in the New Mexico 2000 presidential election are being resolved by the Bernalillo County Elections Task Force, other county clerks and the office of the secretary of state; and

WHEREAS, even with a turnout of the largest number of voters that the state has seen for an election in New Mexico, our election was conducted successfully due to the hard work of the thirty-three county clerks; and

WHEREAS, a centralized office is required in this state to set policy, adopt procedures, set standards and test voting machines so that the public can feel assured that all elections are conducted and administered in a uniform, fair, impartial and accurate manner; and

WHEREAS, the New Mexico state senate is committed to the strict enforcement and extension of provisions of the federal Voting Rights Act of 1965, which prohibits the intimidation and disenfranchisement of communities of color; and

WHEREAS, the Voting Rights Act of 1965 must be extended so that many of its provisions do not cease in 2007;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that it pledges to all minorities in the state that voter harassment, disenfranchisement and intimidation is not and shall never be tolerated in our great state of New Mexico; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the senate is committed to the long-range study of election reform and encourages local governments to place more emphasis on elections administration within New Mexico; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the senate encourage congress to extend the Voting Rights Act of 1965 to protect minority population voters from voter disenfranchisement; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this memorial be transmitted to the state chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, the New Mexico Hispanic Roundtable, the All Indian Pueblo Council and the New Mexico Voter Services Coalition as a sign of the senate's unwavering commitment to the preservation of voting rights for minorities and to the principles of election reform.