HOUSE BILL 560

47th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - first session, 2005

INTRODUCED BY

Patricia A. Lundstrom

AN ACT

RELATING TO ELECTIONS; AUTHORIZING THE SECRETARY OF STATE TO OVERSEE COUNTY CLERK ELECTION ADMINISTRATION; AUTHORIZING A COUNTY COMMISSION TO REQUEST APPOINTMENT OF A SUPERVISOR OF COUNTY ELECTIONS.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO:

     Section 1. Section 1-2-2 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 1969, Chapter 240, Section 23, as amended) is amended to read:

     "1-2-2. SECRETARY OF STATE--GENERAL DUTIES.--The secretary of state shall:

          A. generally supervise all elections;

          B. administer the Election Code in its statewide application especially as it relates to federal and state elective offices;

          C. prepare instructions for the conduct of election and registration matters in accordance with the laws of the state;

          D. advise county clerks, boards of county commissioners and boards of registration as to the proper methods of performing their duties prescribed by the Election Code;

          E. report possible violations of the Election Code of which [he] the secretary of state has knowledge to the district attorney or the attorney general for prosecution;

          F. cause to be published in pamphlet form and distributed to the county clerk of each county for use by precinct boards a sufficient number of copies of the Election Code as it is from time to time amended and supplemented;

          G. be responsible for the education and training of county clerks regarding elections;

          H. be responsible for the education and training of voting machine technicians; [and]

          I. assist the county clerks in the education and training of registration officers and precinct boards; and

          J. have the authority to direct a county clerk to carry out the clerk's election duties and appoint a county supervisor of elections to carry out the clerk's election duties when requested to do so by the county commission of that county."

     Section 2. EFFECTIVE DATE.--The effective date of the provisions of this act is July 1, 2005.

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