The Local Election Act (LEA) was passed by the New Mexico Legislature in 2018. The Local Election Act provides for consolidated local election to be conducted in New Mexico. In addition, HB 407 was signed on April 3, 2019, which provided additional updates to the LEA.
The LEA repealed the Municipal and School Board Election Codes and requires all elections to follow uniform election procedures for the call, conduct, and canvass of all elections. The LEA established two new statewide elections:
- Regular Local Election: the biennial local election at which local governing body members are elected pursuant to the provisions of the LEA held every November of the odd-numbers years
- Municipal Officer’s Election: the local governing body and any elective executive and judicial officers of a municipality held every March of even-numbered years.
In addition, all Special Local Elections in New Mexico will be conducted pursuant to the provisions of the Special Election Act.
The timelines below provide a visual overview of the current election schedule under the election statute revisions.
This timeline illustrates activities specific to the upcoming Regular Local Election and Municipal Officer Election.
Local governments that can participate in the Regular Local Election are defined as:
- a political subdivision of the state with or without authority to levy taxes pursuant to Article 8, Section 9 of the constitution of New Mexico and its enabling legislation, but and does not include a conservancy district governed pursuant to Chapter 73, Article 14 or 18 NMSA 1978 or a county;
- a political subdivision of the state without authority to levy taxes pursuant to Article 8, Section 9 of the constitution of New Mexico or its enabling legislation, but whose statutory provisions provide for election of officers or ballot questions to be decided
Pursuant to the Local Election Act, municipal districts have the option of opting-in to the Regular Local Election by June 30, 2019. Municipalities who Opt-in can lengthen or shorten its municipal officer’s terms to comply with the LEA timeframes. Please send municipality Opt-in ordinances via email to the SOS to: sos.elections@state.nm.us.
Local Elections Act Resources
Local Elections Act Training Presentation
2019 Special Election List of Statutory Deadlines
Local Elections Act Training Schedule
2019 Special Election Voter Guide
House Bill 98
House Bill 407
Contact Information
Bureau of Elections
Email: sos.elections@state.nm.us
Phone: 505-827-3600