HOUSE BILL 290

53rd legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - first session, 2017

INTRODUCED BY

Nathan P. Small and Dennis J. Roch and Sarah Maestas Barnes

AN ACT

RELATING TO ELECTIONS; ESTABLISHING AN ONLINE APPLICATION PROCESS FOR VOTERS TO REQUEST ABSENTEE BALLOTS.

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

     SECTION 1. Section 1-6-4 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 1969, Chapter 240, Section 130, as amended) is amended to read:

     "1-6-4. ABSENTEE BALLOT APPLICATION.--

          A. Application by a voter for an absentee ballot shall be made only on a paper form or its electronic equivalent as prescribed by the secretary of state. The form shall identify the applicant and contain information to establish the applicant's qualification for issuance of an absentee ballot under the Absent Voter Act; provided that on the application form for a general election ballot there shall be no box, space or place provided for designation of the voter's political party affiliation.

          B. Each application for an absentee ballot shall be signed by the applicant and shall require the applicant's printed name, registration address and year of birth to be supplied by the applicant, which shall constitute the required form of identification, except for new registrants who have registered by mail and at that time did not provide acceptable identification. The secretary of state shall issue rules to exempt voters from submitting identification only as required by federal law and shall review and, if necessary, update these rules no later than March 15 of even-numbered years.

          C. A person who willfully and with knowledge and intent to deceive or mislead any voter, precinct board, canvassing board, county clerk or other election official and who falsifies any information on an absentee ballot request form or who affixes a signature or mark other than the person's own on an absentee ballot request form is guilty of a fourth degree felony."

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