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Laws governing ballot measures in New Mexico
From Ballotpedia
This page provides an overview of resources addressing the laws and procedures that govern statewide and local ballot measures in New Mexico, including the initiative and referendum process, constitutional amendments, signature requirements, recall procedures, and campaign finance regulations.
Explore the links below for more information:
- Types of ballot measures in New Mexico
- Laws governing the initiative process in New Mexico
- Amending the New Mexico Constitution
- Laws governing local ballot measures in New Mexico
- Signature requirements for ballot measures in New Mexico
- Laws governing recall in New Mexico
- Laws governing state constitutional conventions in New Mexico
- Campaign finance requirements for New Mexico ballot measures
- Changes to laws governing ballot measures in New Mexico
Laws governing ballot measures in New Mexico
Types of ballot measures in New Mexico
- New Mexico has one type of citizen-initiated ballot measure: [[Veto referendum|veto referendums].
- In New Mexico, the legislature can refer constitutional amendments, bond measures, and constitutional convention questions to the ballot.
Laws governing the initiative process in New Mexico
- In New Mexico, citizens have the power to initiate veto referendums.
- New Mexico adopted the referendum process in 1910, with voter approval of the New Mexico Constitution.
Amending the New Mexico Constitution
- New Mexico became a state in 1912. The current state constitution was ratified in 1912.
- The New Mexico Constitution can be amended in two ways:
- Legislatively referred constitutional amendment: The state Legislature can refer constitutional amendments to the ballot, with a simple majority vote in each legislative chamber.
- Convention-referred constitutional amendment: A state constitutional convention can vote to refer constitutional changes to the ballot.
- A two-thirds vote is required during one legislative session of the state legislature to place a constitutional convention question on the ballot. A convention is held if the question receives a simple majority of the vote. Voters must also ratify amendments proposed by the convention.
Laws governing local ballot measures in New Mexico
- There are no explicit constitutional provisions for local initiative. However, charter cities have the authority to adopt initiatives for ordinances through the municipal home rule provision of section 6 of Article X of the New Mexico Constitution.
Signature requirements for ballot measures in New Mexico
- In New Mexico, the number of signatures required for a ballot initiative is tied to the number of votes cast in the preceding general election.
- A veto referendum requires a number of signatures equal to 10% of the votes cast in the preceding general election and 25% of the votes cast to suspend the law until the election on the referendum.
- The deadline for submitting signatures is 90 days after the adjournment of the legislative session in which the targeted law was approved.
Laws governing recall in New Mexico
- New Mexico does not allow the recall of state officials.
- The New Mexico Constitution does authorize the recall of elected county officials, elected officials of school districts, and officials of commission-manager municipalities.
Laws governing state constitutional conventions in New Mexico
- A two-thirds vote is required during one legislative session of the state legislature to place a constitutional convention question on the ballot. A convention is held if the question receives a simple majority of the vote. Voters must also ratify amendments proposed by the convention.
Campaign finance requirements for New Mexico ballot measures
- In New Mexico, a group organized primarily for a "political purpose" is considered a political committee. Under state law, "political purpose" is defined as "influencing or attempting to influence an election or pre-primary convention, including a constitutional amendment or other questions submitted to voters."
Changes to laws governing ballot measures in New Mexico
2025
2024
2023
2022
2021
2020
2019
2018
The New Mexico State Legislature did not pass legislation concerning ballot measures in 2025.
See also
Footnotes
