SENATE JOINT MEMORIAL 20

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

INTRODUCED BY

Howie C. Morales

A JOINT MEMORIAL

REQUESTING THE SECRETARY OF STATE, COUNTY CLERKS AND UNIVERSITIES TO STUDY THE EFFECTIVENESS OF VOTER CONVENIENCE CENTERS IN THE ELECTION PROCESS.

     WHEREAS, in 2011, a change in law authorized counties to consolidate up to ten precincts in one polling place for election day voting; and

     WHEREAS, in that same year, the law also authorized counties to maintain alternative voting locations previously used in the same election to be open for voting on election day for any voter in the county, in addition to the polling location established in each consolidated precinct; and

     WHEREAS, these consolidated precinct polling locations and alternative voting locations are often referred to as voter convenience centers; and

     WHEREAS, complaints have been reported in both urban and rural areas about the voting experience in counties that used voter convenience centers in the 2012 or 2014 elections; and

     WHEREAS, these complaints have raised concerns about the appropriateness of using voter convenience centers in certain areas;

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that the secretary of state, county clerks and an election expert associated with one of the state's public universities be requested to conduct a study on the effectiveness of voter convenience centers in the election process in New Mexico; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the results of the study be presented to the second session of the fifty-second legislature; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this memorial be transmitted to the secretary of state, the association of county clerks and the board of regents of each of the state's public universities.

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