The bill amends the New Mexico Election Code to establish emergency voting procedures and create absentee voter assistance units, enhancing voter access during emergencies. It outlines new responsibilities for county commissioners and clerks regarding polling place designations, precinct consolidations, and the establishment of voter convenience centers. A significant provision mandates the creation of absentee voter assistance units in secure congregate facilities, enabling the issuance of absentee ballots and same-day voter registration for eligible voters in locations such as jails and nursing homes.

Key changes include allowing county commissioners to designate a precinct as a mail ballot election precinct if it has fewer than one hundred voters and is over twenty miles from the nearest polling place, as well as if more than fifty-five percent of active registered voters are on the permanent absentee list. The bill also requires county clerks to notify voters in these precincts about the absentee ballot process. Additionally, it mandates that county clerks assess the supply needs for election supplies at secure congregate facilities at least ninety days before an election, ensuring adequate resources are available for fluctuating voter populations.

Statutes affected:
introduced version: 1-3-2, 1-3-4, 1-3-5, 1-3-7, 1-4-8, 1-6-22.1, 1-11-18