February 20, 1999

Mr. Speaker:

Your JUDICIARY COMMITTEE, to whom has been referred

HOUSE BILL 176, as amended

has had it under consideration and reports same with recommendation that it DO PASS, amended as follows:

1. Strike House Voters and Elections Committee Amendments 4 through 6.

2. On page 4, line 5, after "begin" insert:

"to administratively process the absentee ballots following the procedures provided in Subsections A through D of Section 1-6-14 NMSA 1978. Beginning at 7:00 a.m. on the Monday before election day, the absent voter precinct board may begin".

3. On page 4, line 6, strike "counting, tallying and" and insert in lieu thereof "electronically".

4. On page 4, line 7, before the period insert:

"; provided, however, that the absentee ballots that cannot be processed by, or are rejected by, an electronic vote tabulation machine shall be placed in a locked ballot box that shall not be opened until election day, at which time they shall be manually counted or tallied as provided in the Election Code".

Respectfully submitted,

R. David Pederson, Chairman

Adopted Not Adopted

(Chief Clerk) (Chief Clerk)

The roll call vote was 9 For 0 Against

Yes: 9

Excused: Luna, Rios, Sanchez

Absent: None

.128054.1

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