The bill proposes to amend the election procedures for conservancy districts in New Mexico by removing them from the Local Election Act and establishing a new framework for their elections. It introduces specific timing for elections, mandating that they occur on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in October in odd-numbered years. The bill also clarifies the roles of election directors and officers, streamlines the election process by eliminating certain requirements for absentee voting, election notices, and polling locations, and defines "qualified electors" and candidacy declarations to ensure that only eligible individuals can participate in the elections.

Furthermore, the bill stipulates that every resident who owns real estate within the district is entitled to one vote for a director-at-large, while each elector residing in the municipal voting precinct has one vote for a municipal director, ensuring that a voter's rights are preserved across different precincts. It also requires candidates to file a declaration of candidacy along with a petition signed by at least ten qualified electors from their precinct. The board of directors is empowered to create rules and procedures for administering elections, covering public notice, polling places, absentee voting, and certification of results, emphasizing the urgency of these changes for public peace, health, and safety.

Statutes affected:
introduced version: 1-22-2, 73-14-20, 73-14-20.1, 73-14-24, 73-14-25, 73-14-28.1
JC substitute: 1-22-2, 73-14-20, 73-14-20.1, 73-14-24, 73-14-25, 73-14-28.1, 73-14-57, 73-14-61, 73-14-62, 73-14-71, 73-14-73, 73-14-74, 73-14-78, 73-18-27, 73-18-28, 73-18-34, 73-18-41
Final Version: 1-22-2, 73-14-20, 73-14-20.1, 73-14-24, 73-14-25, 73-14-28.1, 73-14-57, 73-14-61, 73-14-62, 73-14-71, 73-14-73, 73-14-74, 73-14-78, 73-18-27, 73-18-28, 73-18-34, 73-18-41