SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION

55th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - second session, 2022

INTRODUCED BY

Harold Pope

A JOINT RESOLUTION

PROPOSING AMENDMENTS TO ARTICLE 5, SECTION 2 AND ARTICLE 7, SECTION 5 OF THE CONSTITUTION OF NEW MEXICO TO ALLOW THE LEGISLATURE TO PROVIDE BY LAW FOR RUNOFF ELECTIONS FOR PRIMARY AND STATEWIDE ELECTIONS.

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

     SECTION 1. It is proposed to amend Article 5, Section 2 of the constitution of New Mexico to read:

     "The returns of every election for state officers shall be sealed up and transmitted to the secretary of state, who, with the governor and chief justice, shall constitute the state canvassing board, which shall canvass and declare the result of the election. Unless the legislature provides by law for runoff elections, the joint candidates having the highest number of votes cast for governor and lieutenant governor and the person having the highest number of votes for any other office, as shown by said returns, shall be declared duly elected; and if two or more have an equal, and the highest, number of votes for the same office or offices, one of them, or any two for whom joint votes were cast for governor and lieutenant governor respectively, shall be chosen therefor by the legislature on joint ballot."

     SECTION 2. It is proposed to amend Article 7, Section 5 of the constitution of New Mexico to read:

          "A. All elections shall be by ballot.

          B. The legislature may provide by law for runoff elections for all elections other than municipal [primary or statewide] elections. If the legislature does not provide for runoff elections, the person who receives the highest number of votes for any office, except as provided in this section, and except in the cases of the offices of governor and lieutenant governor, shall be declared elected to that office. The joint candidates receiving the highest number of votes for the offices of governor and lieutenant governor shall be declared elected to those offices.

          C. In a municipal election, the candidate that receives the most votes for an office shall be declared elected to that office, unless the municipality has provided for runoff elections. A municipality may provide for runoff elections as follows:

                (1) a municipality that has not adopted a charter pursuant to Article 10, Section 6 of the constitution of New Mexico may provide by ordinance for runoff elections;

                (2) a municipality that has adopted a charter pursuant to Article 10, Section 6 of the constitution of New Mexico, and prior to the adoption of this amendment the charter provided for runoff elections, shall hold runoff elections pursuant to the charter; or

                (3) a municipality that adopts or has adopted a charter pursuant to Article 10, Section 6 of the constitution of New Mexico may, subsequent to the adoption of this amendment, provide for runoff elections as provided in its charter."

     SECTION 3. The amendment proposed by this resolution shall be submitted to the people for their approval or rejection at the next general election or at any special election prior to that date that may be called for that purpose.

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