1-6-3.1. Voluntary permanent absentee voter list; procedures.

675 words·~3 min read·/nm/chapter-1-elections/article-6-absentee-voting/1-6-3-1

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A. A voter, except a federal qualified elector who is subject to the provisions of the Uniform Military and Overseas Voters Act [1-6B-1 to 1-6B-17 NMSA 1978] or the Intimate Partner Violence Survivor Suffrage Act [1-6C-1 to 1-6C-9 NMSA 1978], may apply to be added to the voluntary permanent absentee voter list for the county in which the voter is registered by completing a paper or online application that conforms to the mailed ballot application requirements of Section 1-6-4 NMSA 1978, except that the voluntary permanent absentee voter application shall provide an additional checkbox for the voter to affirm that reads:

"[ ] I am requesting to be added to the voluntary permanent absentee voter list in my county. This means that the county clerk shall automatically send a mailed ballot to the mailing address listed on my certificate of voter registration each time there is a statewide election that includes my precinct.".

B. Upon receipt of an application from a voter requesting to be added to the voluntary permanent absentee voter list, the county clerk shall process the application in the same manner as an application for a mailed ballot, except that the county clerk shall not accept an application to be added to the voluntary permanent absentee voter list if the voter's mailing address on the certificate of registration is outside of New Mexico.

C. Upon acceptance of the application to be added to the voluntary permanent absentee voter list, the county clerk shall add the voter's name to the voluntary permanent absentee voter list in the county. The voluntary permanent absentee voter list shall contain the voter's name, year of birth, address and precinct in the county.

D. A voter whose name appears on the voluntary permanent absentee voter list shall remain on the list, except as provided in Subsection F of this section, and shall be sent a mailed ballot by the county clerk for each statewide election conducted that includes the precinct in which the voter is eligible to vote. The mailed ballot shall be sent in the first batch of mailed ballots delivered to voters in that election.

E. At least forty-nine days before each statewide election, the county clerk shall send to each voter on the voluntary permanent absentee voter list a notice reminding the voter that the voter will be receiving a mailed ballot for that election. The notice shall also inform the voter of how to remove the voter's name from the voluntary permanent absentee voter list if the voter would like to do so. The notice shall be sent using non-forwardable mail with return postage prepaid.

F. A voter shall be removed from the voluntary permanent absentee voter list by the county clerk for the following reasons:

(1)the voter fails to return a mailed ballot in two consecutive elections, including at least one general election;

(2)the county clerk has sent a mailed ballot or other piece of election mail to the voter's mailing address that was subsequently returned as undeliverable;

(3)the voter's certificate of registration is canceled pursuant to the provisions of Chapter 1, Article 4 NMSA 1978;

(4)the voter updates the voter's certificate of registration indicating an address that is outside of the county for which the voter is listed on the voluntary permanent absentee voter list; or

(5)the voter submits a written request to the county clerk requesting to be removed from the voluntary permanent absentee voter list.

G. A county clerk shall take the necessary steps to attempt to contact and notify a voter who is removed from the voluntary permanent absentee voter list. If a voter is removed from the voluntary permanent absentee voter list, the voter shall only be added again if the voter submits a new voluntary permanent absentee voter application.

H. A county clerk shall maintain the voluntary permanent absentee voter list for the county and shall make the voluntary permanent absentee voter list available on request pursuant to the provisions of Section 1-4-5.5 NMSA 1978.

History: Laws 2023, ch. 84, § 10.