SB 506

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AN ACT

RELATING TO ELECTIONS; REQUIRING INDEPENDENT CANDIDATES TO BE

UNAFFILIATED WITH A POLITICAL PARTY AND TO RESIDE IN THE

DISTRICT FOR WHICH THEY ARE A CANDIDATE ON THE DAY OF THE

GOVERNOR'S PROCLAMATION.

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

Section 1. A new section of the Election Code is

enacted to read:

"INDEPENDENT CANDIDATES FOR GENERAL ELECTIONS--WHO MAY

BECOME A CANDIDATE FOR NOMINATION.--

A. No person shall become a candidate for

nomination as an independent candidate for any office, and

the person's name shall not be printed on the general

election ballot, unless the person's record of voter

registration shows:

(1) no affiliation with a political party on

the date of the governor's proclamation for the primary

election; and

(2) residence in the district of the office

for which the person is a candidate on the date of the

governor's proclamation for the primary election.

B. A voter may challenge the candidacy of any

person seeking nomination as an independent candidate for any

office for the reason that the person does not meet the

SB 506

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requirements of Subsection A of this section by filing a

petition in the district court within ten days after the last

day for filing a declaration of candidacy. The district

court shall hear and render a decision on the matter within

ten days after the filing of the petition. The decision of

the district court may be appealed to the supreme court

within five days after the decision is rendered. The supreme

court shall hear and render a decision on the appeal

forthwith."

Section 2. EFFECTIVE DATE.--The effective date of the

provisions of this act is July 1, 2007.