HOUSE BILL 252

52nd legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - first session, 2015

INTRODUCED BY

Jeff Steinborn

AN ACT

RELATING TO ELECTIONS; PROVIDING FOR VOTER REGISTRATION AT ALL PUBLIC POST-SECONDARY EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS.

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

     SECTION 1. Section 1-4-5.2 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 1995, Chapter 198, Section 3) is amended to read:

     "1-4-5.2. AGENCY REGISTRATION--FORM.--

          A. A qualified elector may register to vote at certain state government offices.

          B. Pursuant to Section 1-4-47 NMSA 1978, a qualified elector who applies for a driver's license, license renewal or motor vehicle identification card may simultaneously register to vote or file a change of address for voter registration purposes.

          C. Pursuant to Section 1-4-48 NMSA 1978, a qualified elector may register to vote in any state agency that provides public assistance or services to persons with disabilities and at all public post-secondary educational institutions. The secretary of state may designate other state or local public offices with the agreement of those offices."

     SECTION 2. Section 1-4-48 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 1995, Chapter 198, Section 13, as amended) is amended to read:

     "1-4-48. AGENCY REGISTRATION.--

          A. The secretary of state shall adopt and publish in accordance with the State Rules Act rules for the administration of a state-agency-based voter registration program. The rules shall provide for distribution of voter registration forms, provisions for the acceptance of voter registration forms and procedures for reporting voter registration activity in accordance with the federal National Voter Registration Act of 1993.

          B. Voter registration shall be made available at all state agencies providing public assistance or services to people with disabilities and at all public post-secondary educational institutions. The secretary of state may, with the agreement of those offices, designate other state and local public offices to provide voter registration services.

          C. Each state agency participating in the voter registration program shall maintain sufficient records for the secretary of state to comply with federal voter registration reporting requirements and the federal Help America Vote Act of 2002. Any records maintained by a state agency regarding voter registration activities in that agency are confidential and shall not be released as public records.

          D. Any voter registration made or accepted at a state agency pursuant to this section shall be transmitted to the appropriate registration officer within ten calendar days.

          E. A state agency employee or agency contractor who participates in the voter registration process may not intentionally influence the prospective registrant in the selection of political party, or independent status, by word or act. A state agency employee or agency contractor who participates in the voter registration process may not reveal the existence of or the nature of the voter registration to anyone other than a registration officer.

          F. For the purposes of this section, "state agency" includes all public post-secondary educational institutions."

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