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SPONSOR: |
Romero |
DATE TYPED: |
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HB |
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SHORT TITLE: |
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SB |
SJR 23 |
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ANALYST: |
Chavez |
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APPROPRIATION
Appropriation
Contained |
Estimated
Additional Impact |
Recurring or
Non-Rec |
Fund Affected |
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FY03 |
FY04 |
FY03 |
FY04 |
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NFI |
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$32.0 |
Non-recurring |
General
Fund |
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See Narrative |
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(Parenthesis
( ) Indicate Expenditure Decreases)
Conflicts with SB 854
Secretary
of State (SOS)
New
Mexico State Department of Education (NMSDE)
LFC
Files
SUMMARY
Synopsis
of Bill
Senate Joint
Resolution 23 proposes to amend Article 7, Section 1 of the New Mexico Constitution
to provide that school elections be held with the general election. Additionally, the resolution updates the
constitution to reflect the voting age pursuant to federal law.
Currently, school
elections are held at different times from other elections.
Additionally, persons
over the age of twenty-one who meet certain residential requirements,
are not mentally incompetent, and have not been convicted of a felonious or
infamous crime shall be qualified to vote at all elections for public officers.
Significant
Issues
This bill proposes to address the issue of low voter turnout for school-elections. However, the Secretary of State (SOS) indicates that the proposal in this bill is technologically impossible because the school districts pre-date the creation of any other voting districts and they cross county lines. The SOS indicates that this proposal could not be accomplished without a substantial impact to county government. Additionally, the number of ballot combinations would increase. Further, there would be an impact on the capacity of current voting systems. Thus, there may be a need for additional systems.
It is uncertain whether this will be a cost
saving measure because of the changes that would need to be implemented in
order to carry out the provisions of this bill.
The SOS indicates that the federal money due the state once it is fully
funded in the amount of 22 million from the Help America Vote Act could not be
used for this purpose. The money
available is earmarked for the acquisition of voting systems for the visually
impaired and also for language minorities.
The balance of the funds are to be used for voter and poll worker
education.
The SOS indicates that an alternative method to
resolving the issue of low voter turnout for school elections would be to hold
these elections in November of the off years since people are accustomed to
voting in November and thus, the voter turnout may increase.
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS
No appropriation is
contained in this bill. However, an
estimated non-recurring cost to the general fund of $32.0 is expected because
of the cost to the SOS for advertising and printing to place an item on the
ballot. This non-recurring cost will
likely be realized in FY05 since the next general election is in November 2004
unless a special election is held prior to the general election for this
purpose.
ADMINISTRATIVE IMPLICATIONS
The SOS indicates that
the administrative implications to the SOS would be minimal. However, the impact to the county government
as indicated by the SOS could be substantial.
CONFLICT
Senate Bill 854
proposes to amend the School Election Law to require that the proclamation for
a regular school election be filed by the superintendent on the last Wednesday
of November of the even-numbered year immediately preceding the date of the
election.
The New Mexico State
Department of Education indicates that if this resolution is adopted revisions
will need to be made in Sections
FC/njw