[LWVNM Action] SB180 FIR

[Richard Mason]

I am attaching the FIR for SB180. Look at the totality of the bill.
Read the actual language on signatures. I think its aim is to put minor
parties with low membership on a par with independent candidates - or vice
versa

*Here is what the SOS said about the bill:*
  The SOS considers this bill mandatory and necessary for the efficient
administration and conduct of elections. All amendments proposed stem from
actual experiences election administrators navigated either during the last
election cycle or are currently navigating in preparation for a Special
Election or the Regular Local Election.

These changes are non-partisan and provide the needed clarity for election
administrators to efficiently and uniformly administer all publicly funded
elections held in New Mexico. According to SOS,

Section 5, which addresses disclosure and nondisclosure of records relating
to elections codifies the importance of distinguishing the procedures to
request voter data or election information/records which contains
information about our national critical infrastructure and voters most
personal information that is constitutionally protected through the secrecy
of the ballot. The county clerks were inundated with requests under IPRA
for data and other information that are contained on voting machines, and
other sources, that they do not use for administrating the election. In
addition, requests for certain data implicates the secrecy of the ballot as
the data requested could be reverse engineered or combined with other data
to see how people voted or to reproduce their own ballot. In addition, SOS
asserts this provision seeks to make clear that other records, like voter
data, that are available through the election code have a different
procedure for their production and the specific provisions of the election
code must be followed. Similarly,

SOS advises the new language governing the absentee voting process
streamline that process and provide significant improvements.

 The bill requires standardized use of voter convenience centers (VCCs) in
all counties. SOS comments that since the adoption of VCCs in 2012, most
counties have already moved away from traditional precincts and have gone
to VCCs. During the 2020 General Election, SB4 required their use in all
counties statewide, which was successful and paved the path towards doing
this in the future.
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