44TH LEGISLATURE - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - FIRST SESSION, 1999

PROPOSING AN AMENDMENT TO ARTICLE 7 OF THE CONSTITUTION OF NEW MEXICO TO ALLOW MUNICIPALITIES TO CONDUCT RUNOFF ELECTIONS.

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

Section 1. It is proposed to amend Article 7, Section 5 of the constitution of New Mexico to read:

"A. All elections shall be by ballot [and]. The person who receives the highest number of votes for any office, except as provided by Subsection B of this section, and except in the cases of the offices of governor and lieutenant governor, shall be declared elected [thereto] 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.

B. A municipality may, by ordinance, provide for runoff elections."

Section 2. 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 which may be called for that purpose.