Unexpected amendment to SB4 - Election Changes

NM Senate approves step toward open primaries

By Dan McKay / Journal Staff Writer

Published: Friday, June 19th, 2020 at 11:31am

Updated: Friday, June 19th, 2020 at 1:27pm

Senate Majority Leader Peter Wirth, D-Santa Fe, talks with Sen. Jospeh Cervantes, D-Las Cruces, talk on the Senate Floor on the first day of the special session going on at the Roundhouse in Santa Fe Thursday June 18, 2020. (Eddie Moore/Albuquerque Journal)

SANTA FE — New Mexico would open its primary elections to independent voters — if they agree to register with a political party before casting their ballot — under legislation that won bipartisan support Friday in the state Senate.

The proposal, Senate Bill 4, now heads to the House as lawmakers continue a fast-paced special session largely dedicated to balancing the state budget.

Sen. John Sapien, D-Corrales, described the proposed election change as a small step toward opening up New Mexico’s closed primary system. Only Democrats, Republicans and Libertarians — the state’s major parties — are now permitted to vote in primaries.

Sapien won approval Friday for an amendment — passed on a 37-5 vote — that changes a broader election proposal. It wouldn’t completely open New Mexico primary elections.

But the measure would allow voters who aren’t affiliated with a political party to register as a Democrat, Republican or Libertarian at a voting location and then cast a ballot.

Under the current system, voters have to change their affiliation at least 28 days before the election.

The proposal wouldn’t permit Democrats to switch to Republicans or vice versa.

But independents could register with a party for the primary election. They would remain registered with that party going forward unless they switched back later.

“What we’re doing here is more of a compromise,” Sapien said, not a fully open primary system.

Allowing independent voters to participate, he said, would force the major parties to appeal to a broader group of voters rather than just their traditional base.

Senate Bill 4 now heads to the House. If approved there, it would go to Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham.