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HOUSE BILL 208
57
TH LEGISLATURE
-
STATE
OF
NEW
MEXICO
-
FIRST SESSION
,
2025
INTRODUCED BY
Rebecca Dow and Harlan Vincent and Jack Chatfield
and Mark B. Murphy and Mark Duncan
AN ACT
RELATING TO ELECTIONS; ALLOWING A QUALIFIED ELECTOR APPLYING
FOR A HUNTING OR FISHING LICENSE TO REGISTER TO VOTE AT THE
DEPARTMENT OF GAME AND FISH.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO:
SECTION 1. Section 1-4-5.2 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 1995,
Chapter 198, Section 3, as amended) is amended to read:
"1-4-5.2. AGENCY REGISTRATION--FORM.--
A. A qualified elector may register to vote at
certain state government offices.
B. Pursuant to Section 1-4-47 NMSA 1978, a
qualified elector who applies for a driver's license, license
renewal or motor vehicle identification card who is not
registered to vote in this state and who is not automatically
registered to vote pursuant to the automatic voter registration
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provisions of Section 1-4-47 NMSA 1978 may simultaneously
register to vote or file a change of address for voter
registration purposes.
C. Pursuant to Section 1-4-48 NMSA 1978, a
qualified elector may register to vote: [in ]
(1) at any state agency that provides public
assistance or services to persons with disabilities. The
secretary of state may designate other state or local public
offices with the agreement of those offices; or
(2) through the department of game and fish at
the time the qualified elector applies for a hunting or fishing
license pursuant to Subsection A of Section 17-3-5 NMSA 1978 .
D. Pursuant to Sections 1-4-47 and 1-4-47.1 NMSA
1978, a qualified elector may become registered to vote by
automatic voter registration at the motor vehicle division of
the taxation and revenue department or other state or local
public offices designated by the secretary of state."
SECTION 2. Section 1-4-48 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 1995,
Chapter 198, Section 13, as amended) is amended to read:
"1-4-48. STATE-AGENCY-BASED VOTER REGISTRATION PROGRAM--
ESTABLISHED--[HUMAN SERVICES ] HEALTH CARE AUTHORITY --DEPARTMENT
OF GAME AND FISH.--
A. The secretary of state shall adopt and publish
in accordance with the State Rules Act rules for the
administration of a state-agency-based voter registration
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program. The rules shall provide for distribution of voter
registration forms, provisions for the acceptance of voter
registration forms and procedures for reporting voter
registration activity in accordance with the federal National
Voter Registration Act of 1993.
B. Voter registration shall be made available:
(1) at all state agencies providing public
assistance or services to people with disabilities. The
secretary of state may designate other state and local public
offices to provide voter registration services with the
agreement of those offices; or
(2) through the department of game and fish by
a license vendor appointed and authorized by the director of
the department of game and fish to accept applications and
issue licenses for hunting or fishing .
C. Each state agency participating in the voter
registration program shall maintain sufficient records for the
secretary of state to comply with federal voter registration
reporting requirements and the federal Help America Vote Act of
2002. Any records maintained by a state agency regarding voter
registration activities in that agency are confidential and
shall not be released as public records.
D. Any voter registration made or accepted at a
state agency pursuant to this section shall be transmitted to
the appropriate registration officer within ten calendar days.
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E. A state agency employee or agency contractor who
participates in the voter registration process may not
intentionally influence the prospective registrant in the
selection of political party, or independent status, by word or
act. A state agency employee or agency contractor who
participates in the voter registration process may not reveal
the existence of or the nature of the voter registration to
anyone other than a registration officer.
F. The [human services department ] health care
authority shall develop procedures to be approved by the
secretary of state to ensure that each benefit program
administered by the department appropriately ensures that
qualified electors receiving benefits are offered the
opportunity to register to vote or update an existing
certificate of registration without duplication of information
contained by the department or by the secretary of state. No
later than the last day of August of each calendar year, the
[human services department ] health care authority shall issue
an annual report detailing implementation of the requirements
of this subsection. The report shall be sent to the
legislative council service, the secretary of state and each
county clerk.
G. If a person who is not a qualified elector
becomes registered to vote pursuant to this section, the
person's registration shall be canceled and the person shall be
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deemed to have never registered."
SECTION 3. EFFECTIVE DATE.--The effective date of the
provisions of this act is July 1, 2025.
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