HOUSE BILL 274

49th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - first session, 2009

INTRODUCED BY

Gail Chasey

AN ACT

RELATING TO ELECTIONS; ALLOWING PERSONS WHO ARE SEVENTEEN YEARS OLD AND WHO WILL BE EIGHTEEN BY THE DAY OF THE GENERAL ELECTION TO VOTE IN THE PRIMARY ELECTION.

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

     Section 1. Section 1-4-2 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 1969, Chapter 240, Section 60, as amended) is amended to read:

     "1-4-2. QUALIFICATION FOR REGISTRATION--RIGHT TO VOTE IN PRIMARY IF REGISTERED.--

          A. Any person who will be a qualified elector at the date of the next ensuing election shall be permitted within the provisions of the Election Code to register and become a voter, provided, however, [he] that the person shall not register in New Mexico without [cancelling his] canceling registration in the state of previous residence if [such there be] that person is registered to vote in the other state.

          B. If a person who is seventeen years old will be a qualified elector on the day of the general election and registers to vote in accordance with the provisions of Subsection A of this section, for the purposes of the primary election, that person shall be considered to be a voter and may vote in the primary election immediately preceding that general election."

     Section 2. Section 1-8-54.1 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 2003, Chapter 300, Section 3) is amended to read:

     "1-8-54.1. SELECTION OF NATIONAL CONVENTION DELEGATES BY MAJOR POLITICAL PARTIES--USE OF ALTERNATIVE SELECTION PROCEDURES--CERTIFICATION.--

          A. If a major political party chooses not to participate in the presidential primary, it shall:

                (1) notify the secretary of state at least thirty days before the governor is required to issue the proclamation of the primary election; and

                (2) allow anyone who would otherwise be qualified to vote in that party's presidential primary to participate in the party's selection procedure.

          B. The state [chairman] chair of a major political party that does not participate in the presidential primary shall certify to the secretary of state the names of the state party's delegates to the party's national convention, and those delegates shall file a declaration of acceptance in accordance with Section 1-8-61 NMSA 1978."

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