HOUSE BILL 497

51st legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - first session, 2013

INTRODUCED BY

James E. Smith

AN ACT

RELATING TO ELECTIONS; PROVIDING FOR ELECTRONIC ONLINE UPDATES OF A VOTER'S CERTIFICATE OF REGISTRATION.

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

     SECTION 1. A new section of Chapter 1, Article 4 NMSA 1978 is enacted to read:

     "[NEW MATERIAL] ONLINE VOTER REGISTRATION UPDATES.--

          A. In addition to updating a certificate of registration in person or by mail, a voter may in accordance with the provisions of Sections 1-4-15 through 1-4-18 NMSA 1978 update an existing certificate of registration electronically by completing a certificate of registration form on the secretary of state's web site. Upon receipt of an updated certificate of registration, the secretary of state shall transmit the certificate to the county clerk of the county in which the registrant resides, and the county clerk shall print the updated certificate, file it in the county's register of voters and enter it into the statewide voter file.

          B. A certificate of registration updated electronically shall be electronically authenticated by the registrant using an electronic signature in conformance with the Electronic Authentication of Documents Act and the Uniform Electronic Transactions Act. A certificate of registration that is electronically authenticated in accordance with the provisions of this subsection shall be deemed to have been subscribed and sworn to by the registrant.

           C. The secretary of state shall ensure that the web site used for electronic registration is secure and that the confidentiality of all users and integrity of data submitted are preserved. The secretary of state shall implement the provisions of this section no later than July 1, 2014."

     SECTION 2. EFFECTIVE DATE.--The effective date of the provisions of this act is July 1, 2014.

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