Section 1-4-5.1 - Method of registration; form. - New Mexico Statutes

1-4-5.1. Method of registration; form.

A.     A qualified elector may apply for registration by mail, in the office of the secretary of state or county clerk or with a registration agent or officer.

B.     A person may request certificate of registration forms from the secretary of state or any county clerk in person, by telephone or by mail for that person or for other persons.

C.     Except as provided in Subsection D of this section, a qualified elector who wishes to register to vote shall fill out completely and sign the certificate of registration.  The qualified elector may seek the assistance of any person in completing the certificate of registration.

D.     A qualified elector who has filed for an order of protection pursuant to the provisions of the Family Violence Protection Act [40-13-1 NMSA 1978] and who presents a copy of that order from a state or tribal court to the registration officer shall not be required to provide physical residence address information on the certificate of registration.

E.     Completed certificates of registration may be mailed or presented in person by the registrant or any other person to the secretary of state or presented in person by the registrant or any other person to the county clerk of the county in which the registrant resides.

F.     If the registrant wishes to vote in the next election, the completed and signed certificate of registration shall be delivered or mailed and postmarked at least twenty-eight days before the election.

G.     Upon receipt of a certificate of registration, the secretary of state shall send the certificate to the county clerk in the county where the qualified elector resides.

H.     Only when the certificate of registration is properly filled out, signed by the qualified elector and accepted for filing by the county clerk as evidenced by the county clerk's signature or stamp and the date of acceptance thereon and when notice has been received by the registrant shall it constitute an official public record of the registration of the qualified elector.

I.     The secretary of state shall prescribe the form of the certificate of registration, which form shall be a postpaid mail-in format and shall be printed in Spanish and English.  The certificate of registration form shall be clear and understandable to the average person and shall include brief but sufficient instructions to enable the qualified elector to complete the form without assistance.  The form shall also include:

(1)     the question "Are you a citizen of the United States of America?" and boxes for the applicant to check to indicate whether the applicant is or is not a citizen;

(2)     the question "Will you be at least eighteen years of age on or before election day?" and boxes for the applicant to check to indicate whether the applicant will be eighteen years of age or older on election day;

(3)     the statement "If you checked 'no' in response to either of these questions, do not complete this form.";

(4)     a statement informing the applicant that:

(a)     if the form is submitted by mail by the applicant and the applicant is registering for the first time in New Mexico, the applicant must submit with the form a copy of:  1) a current and valid photo identification; or 2) a current utility bill, bank statement, government check, paycheck, student identification card or other government document, including identification issued by an Indian nation, tribe or pueblo, that shows the name and current address of the applicant; and

(b)     if the applicant does not submit the required identification, the applicant will be required to do so when voting in person or absentee; and

(5)     a statement requiring the applicant to swear or affirm that the information supplied by the applicant is true.