This bill amends existing New Mexico election laws to allow voters who have not designated a political party affiliation on their voter registration certificates to participate in primary elections. Specifically, it enables these voters to affiliate with a major political party by requesting that party's ballot during the primary election process. The bill outlines that while a voter's certificate of registration will not be changed to reflect this new affiliation unless the voter requests it, they will still be allowed to vote for candidates on the ballot of the party they choose.

Additionally, the bill makes conforming changes to various sections of the New Mexico election code, including provisions for mailed ballot applications and the conduct of elections. It ensures that voters who have declined to designate a party affiliation are informed of their ability to select a party ballot during primary elections. The effective date for these changes is set for July 1, 2025.

Statutes affected:
introduced version: 1-4-15, 1-6-4, 1-6-22.1, 1-12-7, 1-12-7.1, 1-12-7.2, 1-12-20, 1-15A-2
Final Version: 1-4-15, 1-6-4, 1-6-22.1, 1-12-7, 1-12-7.1, 1-12-7.2, 1-12-20, 1-15A-2