Section 1-6-16.2 - Additional emergency procedure for voting. - New Mexico Statutes

1-6-16.2. Additional emergency procedure for voting.

A.     After the close of the period for requesting absentee ballots by mail, any voter who is unable to go to the polls due to unforeseen illness or disability resulting in his confinement in a hospital, sanatorium, nursing home or residence and who is unable to vote at his regular polling place or alternate location may request in writing that an alternative ballot be made available to him. The written request shall be signed by the voter and a health care provider under penalty of perjury.   

B.     The alternative ballot shall be made available by the clerk of the county in which the voter resides to any authorized representative of the voter who through his representative has presented the written request to the office of the clerk.   

C.     Before releasing the alternative ballot, the county clerk shall compare the signature on the written request with the signature on the voter's affidavit of registration. If the county clerk determines that the signature on the written request is not the signature of the voter, he shall reject the request for an alternative ballot.   

D.     The voter shall mark the alternative ballot, place it in an identification envelope similar to that used for absentee ballots, fill out and sign the envelope and return the ballot to the office of the clerk of the county in which the voter resides no later than the time of closing of the polls on election day. The voter's name shall be compared to the roster of voters and the ballot shall only be counted if there is no signature for that voter on the roster of the precinct where that voter's name appears.   

E.     Alternative ballots shall be processed and counted in the same manner as absentee ballots.   

F.     The secretary of state shall prescribe the form of alternative ballots and shall distribute an appropriate number of alternative ballots to each county clerk.