Section 3-9-4 - Absentee ballot application; rejection; acceptance; issuance of absentee ballot. - New Mexico Statutes

3-9-4. Absentee ballot application; rejection; acceptance; issuance of absentee ballot.

A.     Application by a federal qualified elector or overseas voter shall be made on the federal postcard application form to the municipal clerk.

B.     The municipal clerk shall prescribe the form of the absentee ballot application.

C.     An application for an absentee ballot may be obtained from the municipal clerk. 

D.     Upon receipt of a properly completed and delivered application for an absentee ballot, the municipal clerk shall contact the county clerk to determine if the applicant is a qualified elector of the municipality.

E.     The municipal clerk shall reject an absentee ballot application for any of the following reasons:

(1)     the application is not made on the form provided by the municipal clerk;

(2)     the application does not set forth the applicant's full name and address;

(3)     the application does not set forth the applicant's date of birth; 

(4)     the application is not signed by the applicant; or

(5)     the applicant:

(a)     has no valid affidavit of registration on file with the county clerk and is not a federal qualified elector or overseas voter;

(b)     has a valid affidavit of registration on file with the county clerk, but is not a resident of the municipality; or 

(c)     is a federal qualified elector or overseas voter, but is not entitled to vote in the municipal election; and

(d)     cannot comply with Subparagraph  (a), (b) or (c) of this paragraph pursuant to Subsection B of Section 3-8-40 NMSA 1978.

F.     If the municipal clerk rejects an absentee ballot application pursuant to Subsection E of this section, the municipal clerk shall mark the application "rejected", enter "rejected" in the absentee ballot register and file the application in a separate file.  The municipal clerk shall, within twenty-four hours of rejection of the application, notify the applicant in writing of the reasons for rejection of the application.  If the application is incomplete, the municipal clerk shall immediately mail a new application for an absentee ballot.

G.     If the application for absentee ballot is accepted, the municipal clerk shall:

(1)     mark the application "accepted";

(2)     enter the required information in the absentee ballot register; and 

(3)     issue to the applicant an absentee ballot.

H.     The municipal clerk shall deliver the absentee ballot to the applicant in the office of the municipal clerk if the application for absentee ballot has been accepted and if the application is submitted in person by the applicant or mail an absentee ballot to any qualified elector, federal qualified elector or overseas voter whose application for an absentee ballot was received by mail and has been accepted.  The municipal clerk shall notify the county clerk who shall write "absentee ballot" on the signature line of the signature roster next to the name of the person who has been sent an absentee ballot.  Names of individuals that have been labeled "absentee ballot" shall appear on a separate list called the "absentee voter list".  This list shall be submitted to the municipal clerk by the county clerk in the same manner as provided in Subsection B of Section 3-8-7 NMSA 1978. 

I.     It is the duty of the municipal clerk to verify the signature roster and absentee voter list to ensure that all names of individuals who have been issued absentee ballots have been labeled "absentee ballot" on the signature roster and their names listed on the absentee voter list.  If not, the municipal clerk shall write "absentee ballot" on the signature line of the signature roster next to the name of the person who has been sent an absentee ballot.  The municipal clerk shall then enter the name and all required information on the absentee voter list.

J.     If the application for an absentee ballot is delivered in person to the municipal clerk during regular hours and days of business and is accepted, the municipal clerk shall issue the voter the absentee ballot and it shall be marked by the applicant in a voting booth in the municipal clerk's office, sealed in the proper envelopes and otherwise properly executed and returned to the municipal clerk or the clerk's authorized representative before the applicant leaves the office of the municipal clerk.

K.     The act of marking the absentee ballot in the office of the municipal clerk shall be a convenience to the voter in the delivery of the absentee ballot and does not make the office of the municipal clerk a polling place subject to the requirements of a polling place in the Municipal Election Code [Chapter 3, Articles 8 and 9 NMSA 1978] other than as provided in this subsection.  During the period of time between the date a person may first apply in person for an absentee ballot and the final date for such application and marking of the ballot in the office of the municipal clerk, it is unlawful to solicit votes or display or otherwise make accessible any posters, signs or other forms of campaign literature whatsoever in the clerk's office. 

L.     Absentee ballots shall be mailed to federal qualified electors and overseas voters whose applications have been accepted not earlier than thirty-five days prior to the election and not later than 5:00 p.m. on the Friday immediately prior to the date of the election.

M.     Absentee ballots shall be issued to voters whose applications have been approved not earlier than thirty-five days prior to the election and not later than 5:00 p.m. on the Friday immediately prior to the date of the election.

N.     No absentee ballot shall be delivered or mailed by the municipal clerk to any person other than the applicant for such ballot.