The bill amends the early voting procedures in New Mexico by reducing the time frame for early voting and adjusting the hours of operation for polling locations. Specifically, early voting will now commence on the fifteenth day preceding an election, rather than the previous twenty-eighth day. Additionally, early voting locations will be required to operate from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., providing twelve consecutive hours of voting each day, as opposed to the previous requirement of at least eight hours. The bill also mandates that county clerks post the locations and hours of operation for early voting at least ninety days before each statewide election, with no modifications allowed without prior approval from the Secretary of State.

Furthermore, the bill establishes requirements for alternate voting locations based on the population of the counties, ensuring that voters have access to multiple sites for early voting. It specifies that counties with more than ten thousand voters must have at least one alternate location, while those with larger populations must have more. The bill also outlines the necessary provisions for each early voting location, including accessibility for disabled voters and compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act. Overall, the legislation aims to streamline the early voting process and enhance voter access while maintaining security and compliance standards.

Statutes affected:
introduced version: 1-6-5.7