Fiscal impact reports (FIRs) are prepared by the Legislative Finance Committee (LFC) for standing finance committees of the NM Legislature. The LFC does not assume responsibility for the accuracy of these reports if they are used for other purposes.

Current FIRs (in HTML & Adobe PDF formats) are available on the NM Legislative Website (legis.state.nm.us). Adobe PDF versions include all attachments, whereas HTML versions may not. Previously issued FIRs and attachments may also be obtained from the LFC in Suite 101 of the State Capitol Building North.

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

SPONSOR	Beffort		DATE TYPED	1/29/04		HB
SHORT TITLE		Limit All-Mailed Ballot Elections				SB	62
					ANALYST		Collard

APPROPRIATION

Appropriation Contained		Estimated Additional Impact		Recurring or Non-Rec	Fund Affected
FY04	FY05	FY04	FY05
			See Narrative

(Parenthesis ( ) Indicate Expenditure Decreases)

SOURCES OF INFORMATION

LFC Files

Response Received From

Department of Finance and Administration (DFA)

SUMMARY

Synopsis of Bill

Senate Bill 62 specifies when an election is conducted for the purpose of reorganizing a local governmental entity, the all-mailed ballet election process can not be used. This will require voters to vote at a polling place.

Significant Issues

DFA notes when an all-mailed ballot is conducted, registered voters are required to vote by mail; there are no polling places opened. In the consolidation of Bernalillo County and the city of Albuquerque, approximately 65 thousand mailed ballots were returned to the Bernalillo County Clerk as undeliverable; therefore, these registered voters were not able to vote on the consolidation effort.

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS

According to DFA, Bernalillo County indicates the cost to run an all-mailed ballot election was $600 thousand, whereas the estimated cost to run the same election using polling places was $380 thousand. By using polling places, the county could have saved $220 thousand.

ADMINISTRATIVE IMPLICATIONS

DFA notes, according to Bernalillo County, all-mailed ballot elections are not easier to administer than elections held at polling places.

KBC/lg