Bill > SB485

This bill modifies New Mexico's early voting regulations by significantly reducing the early voting period and adjusting polling location hours. Specifically, the bill changes the start of early voting from 28 days before an election to 15 days before an election, and expands the hours of operation from at least 8 to 12 consecutive hours daily. The bill also mandates that early voting locations close at 7:00 p.m. instead of 9:00 p.m. For counties with different voter population sizes, the bill requires a minimum number of alternate voting locations: one location for counties with over 10,000 voters, four locations for counties with over 50,000 voters, and fifteen locations for counties with over 150,000 voters. Additionally, the bill removes previous provisions that allowed county clerks to modify early voting locations and hours only with written approval from the secretary of state, and eliminates the option to close alternate voting locations on Sundays and Mondays during the early voting period. The bill maintains existing requirements for early voting locations, such as providing ballots for all county precincts, having accessible voting systems, and complying with the Americans with Disabilities Act.

https://www.nmlegis.gov/Legislation/Legislation?chamber=S&legtype=B&legno=485&year=25