1. Local Election Act (LEA) Training
FOR INTERNAL USE ONLY
Local Election Act (LEA) Training
Bureau of Elections
New Mexico Secretary of State
Disclaimer: Please be advised that this document is a working document. For the most current version contact the Secretary of State office.
2018 LOCAL ELECTION ACT TRAINING

2. 2018 LOCAL ELECTION ACT TRAINING
Overview
FOR INTERNAL USE ONLY
LEA Overview
What does the Local Election Act do?
Local Election Fund
Election Timelines
Transitional Activities Related to LEA
SOS Implementation Activities
Conduct of Elections
Q &A
2018 LOCAL ELECTION ACT TRAINING

3. What does the Local Election Act do?
FOR INTERNAL USE ONLY
What does the Local Election Act do?
Establishes a statewide Local Election every November of odd- numbered years for non-partisan officers and local government ballot questions.
Establishes a Municipal Officer Election every March of even-numbered years.
Establishes uniform procedures for special elections at other times of the year for ballot questions; all postage is pre-paid by business-reply mail (BRN).
Provides for uniform election procedures for the call, conduct, and canvass of all elections, which align with what is already in place for the primary and general elections.
4 statewide elections: primary, general, LEA and also the Municipal officers election march of even years
2018 LOCAL ELECTION ACT TRAINING

4. 2018 LOCAL ELECTION ACT TRAINING
FOR INTERNAL USE ONLY
Impacted Districts
Local election ballot will include:
Municipal Districts who choose to opt-in
School Districts, including public school boards and community colleges
Soil & Water Conservation Districts
Arroyo Flood Control Districts
Water & Sanitation Districts
Special Hospital Districts
Special Zoning Districts
In 2023: Conservancy & Watershed Districts
2018 LOCAL ELECTION ACT TRAINING

5. Municipalities have a Choice
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Municipalities have a Choice
Opt-In to the Local Election Act by Ordinance:
-Municipal elections appear on the Local Election ballot each November of the odd-numbered year.
-County Clerks conduct all regular local elections and special elections.
-City will pay annual assessment to the Local Election Fund.
If a Municipality takes no action: -Municipal Officer Elections remain in March of even- numbered years (may also include ballot questions). -City Clerk still conducts and pays for regular and special municipal elections (except recall elections). OR
NMML has template ordinances
2018 LOCAL ELECTION ACT TRAINING

6. 2018 LOCAL ELECTION ACT TRAINING
FOR INTERNAL USE ONLY
Local Election Fund
Assessments are based on a local government's general fund expenditures for each fiscal year.
No assessment based on federal funds or on capital expenditures.
The annual assessment is equal to $250 per one million dollars ($1,000,000) or minor fraction thereof.
No assessment may be collected from a district with less than $100,000 in expenditures.
The Local Election Fund is not for the conduct of special elections.
How will the assessment be collected?
The SOS is working with the Department of Finance and Administration (DFA) to use their billing module for payables and receivables.
The first assessment invoices will go out in December 2018, with the first half due January 30, 2019, and the second half is due July 30, 2019.
2018 LOCAL ELECTION ACT TRAINING

7. 2018 LOCAL ELECTION ACT TRAINING
FOR INTERNAL USE ONLY
Election Timeline
2018 LOCAL ELECTION ACT TRAINING

8. Local Election Calendar
FOR INTERNAL USE ONLY
Local Election Calendar
2018 LOCAL ELECTION ACT TRAINING

9. Transitional Activities Associated with HB98 Implementation
FOR INTERNAL USE ONLY
Transitional Activities Associated with HB98 Implementation
One time reduction or extension of officer terms to align with new election dates
Potential need for Special Elections
Legislative cleanup to address gaps in the original legislation
SOS to produce Elections related rules
Term Set to Expire
New Expiration Under Local Election Act
Successive Term under Local Election Act
On or before June 30, 2020
December 31, 2019
January 1, 2020
On or before July 1, 2020
December 31, 2021
January 1, 2022
On or before July 1, 2022
December 31, 2023
January 1, 2024
*Term expirations not applicable to conservancy district or watershed district elections.
2018 LOCAL ELECTION ACT TRAINING

10. LEA Progress: SOS Implementation Activities
FOR INTERNAL USE ONLY
LEA Progress: SOS Implementation Activities
Identify all impacted special districts and the associated political subdivisions.
Establish political subdivisions and precinct mapping in the statewide election management system (SERVIS) to ensure accurate ballot creation and identification of qualified electors.
Implement necessary changes in SERVIS to accommodate the Local Election Act including uniform ballot setup and programing, polling location and roster setup, and results reporting.
Identify special district operating expenditure information and collect assessments for the Local Election Fund.
Establish a communication campaign for voters, potential candidates, and the officers of the impacted special districts.
Draft and adopt rules as required by the Local Election Act.
2018 LOCAL ELECTION ACT TRAINING

11. LEA Progress: SOS Implementation Resources
FOR INTERNAL USE ONLY
LEA Progress: SOS Implementation Resources
LEA FAQ’s posted on SOS website (for the public)
Election official publications – Organized by Election Type
Training Guide
Training Presentation
Election Calendars
Training Schedule
Training Calendar- October/December Trainings
Any questions from any local government should be addressed to the SOS Elections Helpdesk via at
LEA FAQ’s for impacted districts (Internal)- answering them on a per request basis
2018 LOCAL ELECTION ACT TRAINING

12. Conduct of Elections- Regular Local Election
FOR INTERNAL USE ONLY
Conduct of Elections- Regular Local Election
Who can participate?
Proclamation
Polling locations
Candidates
Ballots
Absentee voting and early voting locations
Voting tabulators
Poll officials
Canvassing
Post-Election responsibilities
2018 LOCAL ELECTION ACT TRAINING

13. Conduct of Elections- Municipal Officers Election
FOR INTERNAL USE ONLY
Conduct of Elections- Municipal Officers Election
Who can participate?
Proclamation
Polling locations
Candidates
Ballots
Absentee voting and early voting locations
Voting tabulators
Poll officials
Canvassing
Post-Election responsibilities
2018 LOCAL ELECTION ACT TRAINING

14. Conduct of Elections- Special Elections
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Conduct of Elections- Special Elections
Who can participate?
Proclamation
Polling locations- N/A
Candidates- N/A
Ballots
Absentee voting and early voting locations- N/A
Voting tabulators
Poll officials
Canvassing
Post-Election responsibilities
2018 LOCAL ELECTION ACT TRAINING

15. Conduct of Elections- Election Dates & Purpose
FOR INTERNAL USE ONLY
Conduct of Elections- Election Dates & Purpose
Regular Local Election
Municipal Officer Election
Special Election
First Tuesday after the first Monday in November of odd-numbered years.
(1-22-3, NMSA 1978)
First Tuesday in March of even-numbered years.
No special local election shall be held within seventy days (70) prior to or following any statewide election.
( , NMSA 1978)
Electing members to local governing bodies, municipal executive office, or municipal judicial office; and, posing state, county or local government ballot questions.
Electing municipal officers; and, posing local government ballot questions.
Posing local government ballot questions.
2018 LOCAL ELECTION ACT TRAINING

16. Conduct of Elections- Who pays for the Election?
FOR INTERNAL USE ONLY
Conduct of Elections- Who pays for the Election?
Regular Local Election
Municipal Officer Election
Special Election
Local government pays an annual assessment for the purposes of:
reimbursing the counties for the costs of conducting and administering regular local elections required by the Local Election Act;
paying the administrative costs of the office of the secretary of state for administering elections required by the Local Election Act and for administering the local election fund; and
carrying out all other specified provisions of the Local Election Act.
No assessment paid;
Municipal Clerk still conducts and pays for regular and special municipal elections (except recall elections).
The costs of conducting a special election shall be paid for by the state or local government calling for the election.
No individual, corporation, person, political action committee or other nongovernmental entity shall pay for or reimburse the state or a local government for the costs associated with conducting a special election.
2018 LOCAL ELECTION ACT TRAINING

17. Conduct of Elections- Who can Participate?
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Conduct of Elections- Who can Participate?
Regular Local Election
Municipal Officer Election
Special Election
Municipalities (including home rule municipalities, those governed by a territorial charter or special charter) who opted-in and LEA mandatory entities .
Municipalities (including home rule municipalities, those governed by a territorial charter or special charter), who do not opt-in to the Regular Local Election, and home rule municipalities whose charter requires voter identification.
State, county or a local government except for a special election for the office of United States representative.
2018 LOCAL ELECTION ACT TRAINING

18. Conduct of Elections- Proclamation
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Conduct of Elections- Proclamation
Regular Local Election
Municipal Officer Election
Special Election
The SOS shall by resolution issue a proclamation in English and Spanish calling a Regular Local Election no later than ninety (90) days before the date of the election.
The County Clerk is responsible for administering the election.
The SOS shall by resolution issue a proclamation in English and Spanish calling a Municipal Officer Election no later than ninety (90) days before the date of the election.
The Municipal Clerk is responsible for administering the election.
The local governing body calling the special election shall do so by issuing a proclamation, and filing it with the applicable county clerk.
Each local government shall notify the SOS of all local government positions to be filled at the election no later than 120 days and no earlier than 150 days before the next local election.
Ballot questions only.
2018 LOCAL ELECTION ACT TRAINING

19. Conduct of Elections- Content of Proclamation
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Conduct of Elections- Content of Proclamation
Regular Local Election
Municipal Officer Election
Special Election
Election date;
Each local governing body position to be filled;
Executive and judicial positions to be filled;
Declarations of candidacy filing date;
Declarations of write-in candidate filing date; and,
The date when a ranked-choice voting runoff election or a top-two runoff election, will occur, if necessary. (Applicable municipalities only).
Special Election date;
Purpose of the election
Ballot questions to be voted on;
Date and time of the voter registration books closure.
2018 LOCAL ELECTION ACT TRAINING

20. Conduct of Elections- Proclamation Distribution
FOR INTERNAL USE ONLY
Conduct of Elections- Proclamation Distribution
Regular Local Election
Municipal Officer Election
Special Election
The SOS will provide a copy of the proclamation to the applicable County Clerks.
The County Clerk shall post the proclamation on their website and, no later than 75 days before the election, publish the relevant county portions of the proclamation in a newspaper of general circulation within that county.
The SOS will provide a copy of the proclamation to the applicable municipal clerk and county clerk.
The Municipal Clerk shall, no later than 75 days before the election, publish the proclamation in a newspaper of general circulation within that county.
The County Clerk will post the entire proclamation on their website, and list the names of the municipalities within the county that are conducting the election.
The county clerk shall, no later than 63 days before the election, publish the proclamation once each week for two consecutive weeks in a newspaper of general circulation within the boundaries of the local government or special district.
The county clerk will post the entire proclamation on their website, and list the names of the local government or special district within the county that is conducting the election.
2018 LOCAL ELECTION ACT TRAINING

21. Conduct of Elections- Polling Locations
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Conduct of Elections- Polling Locations
Regular Local Election
Municipal Officer Election
Special Election
The board of county commissioners shall by resolution designate the polling place of each precinct, and consolidate precincts for the regular local election in June or July of each odd-numbered year.
The board of county commissioners (or the governing body of the municipality may) shall by resolution designate the polling place of each precinct, and consolidate precincts for the election in June or July of each odd-numbered year.
Mail-Only Election.
2018 LOCAL ELECTION ACT TRAINING

22. Conduct of Elections- Poll Officials
FOR INTERNAL USE ONLY
Conduct of Elections- Poll Officials
Regular Local Election
Municipal Officer Election
Special Election
Poll officials shall be appointed by the County Clerk no later than 45 days before the election, and shall meet the requirements of 1-2-7, NMSA 1978.
Poll officials shall be appointed by the Municipal Clerk no later than 45 days before the election, and shall meet the requirements of 1-2-7, NMSA 1978.
Poll officials shall be appointed by the appropriate clerk no later than 45 days before the election, and shall meet the requirements of 1-2-7, NMSA These poll officials are responsible for convening no earlier than 5 days before the election to process the returned ballots.
2018 LOCAL ELECTION ACT TRAINING

23. Conduct of Elections- Candidates
FOR INTERNAL USE ONLY
Conduct of Elections- Candidates
Regular Local Election
Municipal Officer Election
Special Election
Individuals seeking candidacy shall file a declaration of candidacy on the 70th day before the local election between 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m.
Individuals seeking to be a write-in candidate shall file a declaration of write-in candidacy on the 63rd day before the local election between 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m.
The county clerk must then notify each candidate in writing no later than 5:00 p.m. on the 60th day before the election whether they have been qualified or disqualified.
Individuals seeking candidacy shall file a declaration of candidacy on the 56th day before the election between 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. with the municipal clerk.
Individuals seeking to be a write-in candidate shall file a declaration of write-in candidacy on the 49th day before the local election between 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m.
The municipal clerk must then notify each candidate in writing no later than 5:00 p.m. on the 49th day before the election whether they have been qualified or disqualified.
Ballot questions only.
*Home rule municipalities requiring that a candidate file a declaration of candidacy before qualifying for public financing, declarations of candidacy shall be filed on the date provided in the municipality's charter.
2018 LOCAL ELECTION ACT TRAINING

24. Conduct of Elections- Ballots and Publication
FOR INTERNAL USE ONLY
Conduct of Elections- Ballots and Publication
Regular Local Election
Municipal Officer Election
Special Election
The County Clerk is responsible for preparing and printing the ballot in accordance with Article 10 of the Election Code.
The appropriate clerk is responsible for preparing and printing the ballot in accordance with Article 10 of the Election Code.
Each County Clerk shall prepare a publication of the ballot contents to be published in a newspaper of general circulation in the county and shall conform to the provisions of the federal Voting Rights Act of 1965, as amended.
Each Municipal Clerk shall prepare a publication of the ballot contents to be published in a newspaper of general circulation in the county and shall conform to the provisions of the federal Voting Rights Act of 1965, as amended.
2018 LOCAL ELECTION ACT TRAINING

25. Conduct of Elections- Canvassing
FOR INTERNAL USE ONLY
Conduct of Elections- Canvassing
Regular Local Election
Municipal Officer Election
Special Election
The Board of County Commissioners shall canvass the votes cast in their respective county during the election.
The state canvassing board shall canvass the results for candidates or ballot questions voted on by more than one county.
The Board of County Commissioners shall canvass the votes cast in their respective county during the election.
2018 LOCAL ELECTION ACT TRAINING

26. Conduct of Elections- Canvassing (cont.)
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Conduct of Elections- Canvassing (cont.)
Regular Local Election
Municipal Officer Election
Special Election
Within 10 days after the date of the election, the canvassing board shall meet and shall canvass the returns in the same manner as county election returns are canvassed; and issue a certificate of canvass of the results of the election and send one copy of the certified results to:(a) each local governing body receiving votes in the county; (b) the secretary of state;(c) the county clerk.
Within 10 days after the date of the election, the canvassing board shall meet and shall canvass the returns in the same manner as county election returns are canvassed; and send one copy of the certified results to the local governing body, county clerk, and secretary of state
2018 LOCAL ELECTION ACT TRAINING

27. 2018 LOCAL ELECTION ACT TRAINING
FOR INTERNAL USE ONLY
Questions?
2018 LOCAL ELECTION ACT TRAINING

28. Elections Administrator
FOR INTERNAL USE ONLY
Contact Information
For specific questions
Rosangela Ortiz
LEA Project Manager
Rebecca Martinez
Elections Administrator
Mandy Vigil
Elections Director
Bureau of Elections
WEB: Sos.state.nm.us
Phone:
2018 LOCAL ELECTION ACT TRAINING