HOUSE JOINT MEMORIAL 24

48th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - second session, 2008

INTRODUCED BY

Jose A. Campos

A JOINT MEMORIAL

REQUESTING THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A BIPARTISAN COMMITTEE TO STUDY THE ESTABLISHMENT OF AN INDEPENDENT STATE ELECTIONS COMMISSION.

     WHEREAS, the governor's task force on ethics reform and the ethics subcommittee of the New Mexico legislative council recommended the establishment of a bipartisan committee to study the establishment of an independent state elections commission; and

     WHEREAS, public confidence in a representative democracy hinges on the preservation of the integrity and reliability of election results; and

     WHEREAS, the nonpartisan administration of elections could play an important role in preserving public confidence in the election process and election officials; and

     WHEREAS, national trends toward the establishment of independent elections commissions and the importance of increasing the public's confidence in state elections warrant further study of the administration of state elections and the possibility for the establishment of an independent state elections commission in New Mexico;

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that the governor and the legislature be requested to establish a bipartisan committee to study the establishment of an independent state elections commission; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that members of the committee be appointed in the following manner:

          A. the governor shall appoint six members, not more than three of whom are of the same political party;

          B. three members of the house of representatives shall be appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives and three members of the senate shall be appointed by the committees' committee of the senate or, if the senate appointments are made during the interim, by the president pro tempore of the senate after consultation with and agreement of a majority of the members of the committees' committee. Legislator members shall be appointed from each house, after consultation with the floor leaders of the two major political parties, so that no more than two members from each house are members of the same political party; and

          C. the governor, the president pro tempore of the senate and the speaker of the house of representatives shall jointly appoint four county clerks, no more than two of whom are members of the same political party; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the governor, the speaker of the house of representatives and the president pro tempore of the senate shall jointly appoint a chair and vice chair of the committee; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the bipartisan committee receive testimony from the secretary of state and other election officials and experts as necessary to carry out its duties; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the legislative council service and the office of the governor provide staff and support for the committee; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the bipartisan committee conclude its work by December 1, 2008 and make recommendations and draft legislation, if necessary, to implement the recommendations for consideration by the first session of the forty-ninth legislature; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this memorial be transmitted to the governor, the president pro tempore of the senate and the speaker of the house of representatives.

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