Section 31-13-1 - Felony conviction; restoration of citizenship. - New Mexico Statutes

31-13-1. Felony conviction; restoration of citizenship.

A.     A person who has been convicted of a felony shall not be permitted to vote in any statewide, county, municipal or district election held pursuant to the provisions of the Election Code [1-1-1 NMSA 1978], unless the person:

(1)     has completed the terms of a suspended or deferred sentence imposed by a court;

(2)     was unconditionally discharged from a correctional facility under the jurisdiction of the corrections department or was conditionally discharged from a correctional facility under the jurisdiction of the corrections department and has completed all conditions of probation or parole;

(3)     was unconditionally discharged from a correctional facility under the jurisdiction of a federal corrections agency or was conditionally discharged from a correctional facility under the jurisdiction of a federal corrections agency and has completed all conditions of probation or parole; or

(4)     has presented the governor with a certificate verifying the completion of the sentence and was granted a pardon or a certificate by the governor restoring the person's full rights of citizenship.

B.     When a person has completed the terms of a suspended or deferred sentence imposed by a court for a felony conviction, the clerk of the district court shall notify the secretary of state.  The secretary of state shall notify all county clerks that the person is eligible for registration.

C.     A person who has served the entirety of a sentence imposed for a felony conviction, including a term of probation or parole shall be issued a certificate of completion by the corrections department.  Upon issuance, the corrections department shall inform the person that the person is entitled to register to vote.  The certificate of completion shall state that the person's voting rights are restored.

D.     When the corrections department issues a person a certificate of completion, the corrections department shall notify the secretary of state that the person is entitled to register to vote.  The secretary of state shall notify all county clerks that the person is eligible for registration.  Additionally, a county clerk shall accept the following documents as proof that a person has served the entirety of the sentence for a felony conviction and is eligible for registration:

(1)     a judgment and sentence from a court of this state, another state or the federal government, which shows on its face that the person has completed the entirety of the sentence;

(2)     a certificate of completion from the corrections department; or

(3)     a certificate of completion from another state or the federal government.

E.     A person who has been convicted of a felony shall not be permitted to hold an office of public trust for the state, a county, a municipality or a district, unless the person has presented the governor with a certificate verifying the completion of the sentence and was granted a pardon or a certificate by the governor restoring the person's full rights of citizenship.