Bill > SB483

This bill proposes two key changes to New Mexico state law to establish Election Day as a paid holiday and expand voting rights for employees. First, the bill modifies existing election law to require state and public employers to provide full-day compensation to employees who are absent to vote on Election Day, which will occur on the first Tuesday in November. The legislation removes previous restrictions that limited voting time to two hours and allowed employers to specify when employees could be absent. Second, the bill adds Election Day to the list of official legal public holidays in New Mexico, alongside other recognized holidays like Independence Day and Thanksgiving. The bill provides a key exemption for certain employees necessary to supervise and administer elections, such as those working for the Secretary of State, local governments, Indian nations, tribes, pueblos, or law enforcement. By making Election Day a paid holiday, the bill aims to make voting more accessible by giving workers more flexibility and removing potential financial barriers to participating in the electoral process. Employers who refuse to comply with these provisions could face misdemeanor charges and fines ranging from $50 to $100.

https://www.nmlegis.gov/Legislation/Legislation?chamber=S&legtype=B&legno=483&year=25