0001|                               AN ACT
    |
0002| RELATING TO ELECTIONS; AMENDING THE ELECTION CODE PERTAINING TO THE
    |
0003| FORM OF ABSENTEE BALLOT APPLICATIONS AND BALLOTS FOR GENERAL
    |
0004| ELECTIONS.
    |
0005| 
    |
0006| BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO:
    |
0007|      Section 1.  Section 1-6-4 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 1969, Chapter 240, Section 130, as
    |
0008| amended by Laws 1993, Chapter 19, Section 2 and by Laws 1993, Chapter 20, Section 1 and by
    |
0009| Laws 1993, Chapter 21, Section 2 and by Laws 1993, Chapter 314, Section 42 and also by Laws
    |
0010| 1993, Chapter 316, Section 42) is amended to read:
    |
0011|      "1-6-4.  ABSENTEE BALLOT APPLICATION.--
    |
0012|           A.  Application by a federal qualified elector for an absentee ballot shall be made
    |
0013| on the official postcard form prescribed or authorized by the federal government to the county
    |
0014| clerk of the county of his residence.
    |
0015|           B.  Application by a voter for an absentee ballot shall be made only on a form
    |
0016| prescribed, printed and furnished by the secretary of state to the county clerk of the county in
    |
0017| which he resides.  The form shall identify the applicant and contain information to establish his
    |
0018| qualification for issuance of an absentee ballot under the Absent Voter Act; provided that, on the
    |
0019| application form for a general election ballot there shall be no box, space or place provided for
    |
0020| designation of the voter's political party affiliation.
    |
0021|           C.  Each application for an absentee ballot shall be subscribed by the applicant."
    |
0022|      Section 2.  Section 1-6-8 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 1969, Chapter 240, Section 134, as
    |
0023| amended) is amended to read:
    |
0024|      "1-6-8.  ABSENTEE BALLOT ENVELOPES.--
    |
0025|           A.  The secretary of state shall prescribe the form of, procure and distribute to
    |
0001| each county clerk a supply of:
    |
0002|                (1)  official inner envelopes for use in sealing the completed absentee
    |
0003| ballot;
    |
0004|                (2)  official mailing envelopes for use in returning the official inner
    |
0005| envelope to the county clerk; provided, the official mailing envelope for absentee ballots in a
    |
0006| general election shall contain no designation of party affiliation;
    |
0007|                (3)  absentee ballot instructions, describing proper methods for completion
    |
0008| of the ballot and returning it; and
    |
0009|                (4)  official transmittal envelopes for use by the county clerk in mailing
    |
0010| absentee ballot materials.
    |
0011|           B.  Official transmittal envelopes and official mailing envelopes for transmission
    |
0012| of absentee ballot materials to and from the county clerk and federal qualified electors shall be
    |
0013| printed in red in the form prescribed by the federal Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee
    |
0014| Voting Act.  Official transmittal envelopes and official mailing envelopes for transmission of
    |
0015| absentee ballot materials to and from the county clerk and voters shall be printed in black in
    |
0016| substantially similar form.  All official inner envelopes shall be printed in black.
    |
0017|           C.  The reverse of each official mailing envelope shall contain a form to be
    |
0018| executed by the person completing the absentee ballot.  The form shall identify the person
    |
0019| and shall contain the following statement:  "I will not vote in this election other than by the
    |
0020| enclosed ballot.  I will not receive or offer any compensation or reward for giving or
    |
0021| withholding any vote."."                                        
    |