SENATE MEMORIAL 12

54th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - second session, 2020

INTRODUCED BY

Bill Tallman

 

 

 

 

 

A MEMORIAL

REQUESTING THE SECRETARY OF STATE TO STUDY AND PROVIDE RECOMMENDATIONS ON INSTITUTING OPEN PRIMARY ELECTIONS.

 

     WHEREAS, increasing participation in all levels of the political process will produce a stronger mandate to govern; and

     WHEREAS, twenty-five percent of all New Mexico voters choose not to affiliate with a major political party; and

     WHEREAS, sixty percent of younger voters choose to be independent voters; and

     WHEREAS, voters' tax dollars should not fund elections those voters cannot participate in; and

     WHEREAS, New Mexico as a state has among the lowest rate of voter turnout and the highest rate of non-competitive elections in the country; and

     WHEREAS, increasing participation in all levels of the political process will strengthen democracy and provide increased civil discourse; and

     WHEREAS, semi-open primaries allow non-affiliated voters to participate exclusively in one primary and increase the responsiveness of primary candidates to their communities; and

     WHEREAS, denying participation in primary elections is a form of disenfranchisement;

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that the secretary of state be requested to study open primaries, in their various forms, and develop recommendations on instituting a form of open primaries in the state; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the secretary of state provide recommendations for legislation to open New Mexico's primary elections to the appropriate interim legislative committee before November 1, 2020; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this memorial be transmitted to the secretary of state and the co-chairs of the New Mexico legislative council.

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