List of New Mexico ballot measures
This page provides a list of ballot measures that have appeared on the statewide ballot in New Mexico.
- The list is for state ballot measures since 1911.
- HBM Factbook
- List of ballot measures by year
- Types of ballot measures
Historical Ballot Measures (HBM) Factbooks
The inventory of statewide ballot measures is part of Ballotpedia's Historical Ballot Measure Factbooks, which document nearly 200 years of direct democracy in the United States. This ongoing research effort will provide an unparalleled resource for researchers, reporters, and voters on how ballot measures have evolved, the issues they've covered, and the role they have played in our civic life. Click here to access the state historical ballot measure factbooks.
List of ballot measures by year
Measures are listed in reverse-chronological order, with the most recent and upcoming elections appearing first. Tables include brief summaries, relevant topics, and the election results for each measure.
2026
See also: New Mexico 2026 ballot measures
November 3
| Type | Title | Subject | Description | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Board of Regents Nominating Committees Amendment | Higher education governance | Make changes to the Board of Regents, including establishing nominating committees to provide lists of candidates, provide that student members are appointed from a list provided by student governing body, and prohibit non-student members from changing political party 12 months preceding appointment | ||
| Eliminate Governor’s Pocket Veto and Require Veto Explanations Amendment | State executive powers and duties | Require bills to become law if the governor does not sign or veto them within the required timeframe, eliminating the governor's pocket veto | ||
| Establish Salary for State Legislators Amendment | Salaries of government officials | Establish a salary for state legislators equal to the annual median household income of the state | ||
| Repeal Separate Election Requirement for School Election Dates Amendment | Public education governance; Local government officials and elections | Repeal the constitutional provision requiring that school elections be held at different times from partisan elections |
2024
See also: New Mexico 2024 ballot measures
November 5
| Type | Title | Subject | Description | Result | Yes Votes | No Votes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bond Question 1 | Bond issues | Issues $30.76 million in bonds to fund senior citizens facilities |
| 572,049 (70%) | 242,732 (30%) | |
| Bond Question 2 | Bond issues | Issues $19.305 million in bonds to fund public libraries |
| 545,321 (67%) | 265,087 (33%) | |
| Bond Question 3 | Bond issues; Public education funding; Higher education funding | Issue $230.26 million in bonds to fund capital improvement projects for higher education institutions, special public schools, and tribal schools |
| 530,807 (66%) | 277,070 (34%) | |
| Bond Question 4 | Bond issues | Issues $10.297 million in bonds to modernize public safety radio communications systems |
| 498,733 (63%) | 292,783 (37%) | |
| Constitutional Amendment 1 | Veterans policy; Property tax exemptions | Proportionally applies the disabled veteran property tax exemption according to a veteran's disability rating |
| 701,047 (83%) | 145,855 (17%) | |
| Constitutional Amendment 2 | Veterans policy; Property tax exemptions | Increases the property tax exemption for veterans from $4,000 to $10,000, adjusted annually for inflation |
| 611,027 (72%) | 240,349 (28%) | |
| Constitutional Amendment 3 | State judiciary | Authorize the designee of the dean of the University of New Mexico Law School serve as chair of the judicial nomination commission |
| 412,465 (51%) | 389,871 (49%) | |
| Constitutional Amendment 4 | Salaries of government officials | Authorize the board of county commissioners to set salaries for county officers and clarify that fees collected by the county are to be deposited into the county treasury |
| 520,128 (66%) | 271,961 (34%) |
2022
See also: New Mexico 2022 ballot measures
November 8
| Type | Title | Subject | Description | Result | Yes Votes | No Votes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bond Question 1 | Bond issues | Issue $24.47 million in bonds for senior citizen facility improvements |
| 427,438 (66%) | 216,993 (34%) | |
| Bond Question 2 | Bond issues | Issue $19.27 million in bonds for public libraries |
| 401,866 (63%) | 239,007 (37%) | |
| Bond Question 3 | Public education funding; Bond issues; Higher education funding | Issue $215.99 million in bonds for public higher education institutions, special public schools, and tribal schools |
| 392,064 (61%) | 247,779 (39%) | |
| Constitutional Amendment 1 | Early childhood education; Revenue allocation; Public education funding | Allocate 1.25% of the five-year average of year-end market values of the money in the Land Grant Permanent Fund to early childhood education and the public school permanent fund |
| 472,826 (70%) | 199,347 (30%) | |
| Constitutional Amendment 2 | State and local government budgets, spending, and finance | Authorize the Legislature to provide funds for infrastructure for residential services, such as internet, electric, gas, water, and wastewater |
| 425,609 (65%) | 227,846 (35%) | |
| Constitutional Amendment 3 | State judiciary | Provide that an appointed judge be up for election at the first general election one year after appointment |
| 440,945 (69%) | 200,018 (31%) |
2020
See also: New Mexico 2020 ballot measures
November 3
| Type | Title | Subject | Description | Result | Yes Votes | No Votes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bond Question A | Bond issues | Issues $33.3 million in bonds for senior citizen facility improvements |
| 550,541 (68%) | 257,888 (32%) | |
| Bond Question B | Bond issues | Issues $9.7 million in bonds for public libraries |
| 535,150 (66%) | 272,681 (34%) | |
| Bond Question C | Bond issues | Issues $156.3 million in bonds for public higher education institutions, special public schools, and tribal schools |
| 526,350 (65%) | 284,426 (35%) | |
| Constitutional Amendment 1 | Administrative organization; Utility policy | Makes the Public Regulation Commission a three-member appointed commission |
| 445,655 (56%) | 355,471 (44%) | |
| Constitutional Amendment 2 | Election administration and governance | Amends the New Mexico Constitution to allow for laws that adjust the date of election and term for non-statewide officeholders |
| 503,308 (64%) | 277,744 (36%) |
2018
See also: New Mexico 2018 ballot measures
November 6
| Type | Title | Subject | Description | Result | Yes Votes | No Votes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amendment 1 | State judiciary | New Mexico Constitutional Amendment 1, the Judicial Appeal Process Provided by Law Amendment, was on the ballot in New Mexico as a legislatively referred constitutional amendment on November 6, 2018.[1] The measure was approved. |
| 337,966 (58%) | 243,100 (42%) | |
| Amendment 2 | Ethics rules and commissions | New Mexico Constitutional Amendment 2, the Independent Ethics Commission Amendment, is on the ballot in New Mexico as a legislatively referred constitutional amendment on November 6, 2018. |
| 466,029 (75%) | 153,869 (25%) | |
| Bond Question A | Bond issues | The New Mexico Senior Citizen Facilities Bond is on the ballot in New Mexico as a legislatively referred bond question on November 6, 2018. |
| 444,526 (71%) | 182,749 (29%) | |
| Bond Question B | Bond issues | The New Mexico Public Libraries Bond is on the ballot in New Mexico as a legislatively referred bond question on November 6, 2018. |
| 430,788 (69%) | 195,523 (31%) | |
| Bond Question C | Bond issues | The New Mexico School Buses Bond is on the ballot in New Mexico as a legislatively referred bond question on November 6, 2018. |
| 429,398 (69%) | 194,273 (31%) | |
| Bond Question D | Bond issues | The New Mexico Higher Education, Special Schools, and Tribal Schools Bond is on the ballot in New Mexico as a legislatively referred bond question on November 6, 2018. |
| 413,105 (66%) | 214,752 (34%) |
2016
See also: New Mexico 2016 ballot measures
November 8
| Type | Title | Subject | Description | Result | Yes Votes | No Votes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bond Question A | Bond issues |
| 475,498 (69%) | 218,386 (31%) | ||
| Bond Question B | Bond issues |
| 449,220 (65%) | 244,213 (35%) | ||
| Bond Question C | Bond issues |
| 442,149 (63%) | 255,835 (37%) | ||
| Bond Question D | Bond issues |
| 458,852 (66%) | 234,722 (34%) | ||
| Constitutional Amendment 1 | Criminal trials; Bail policy | Allow courts to deny bail to a defendant charged with a felony if a prosecutor shows evidence that the defendant poses a threat to the public, while also providing that a defendant cannot be denied bail because of a financial inability to post a bond |
| 616,887 (87%) | 90,293 (13%) |
2014
See also: New Mexico 2014 ballot measures
November 4
| Type | Title | Subject | Description | Result | Yes Votes | No Votes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amendment 1 | Public education governance; Local government officials and elections | Allow school elections to be held at the same time as nonpartisan elections |
| 258,673 (58%) | 189,783 (42%) | |
| Amendment 2 | Education |
| 282,620 (65%) | 153,881 (35%) | ||
| Amendment 3 | State judicial selection |
| 264,351 (62%) | 159,580 (38%) | ||
| Amendment 4 | Local government organization |
| 251,584 (59%) | 173,316 (41%) | ||
| Amendment 5 | State and local government budgets, spending, and finance |
| 225,641 (53%) | 202,072 (47%) | ||
| Bond Question A | Bond issues |
| 294,577 (65%) | 158,800 (35%) | ||
| Bond Question B | Bond issues |
| 285,716 (63%) | 167,778 (37%) | ||
| Bond Question C | Higher education governance; Public education funding; Bond issues |
| 273,118 (60%) | 183,049 (40%) |
2012
See also: New Mexico 2012 ballot measures
November 6
| Type | Title | Subject | Description | Result | Yes Votes | No Votes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amendment 1 | State judiciary |
| 398,723 (60%) | 263,418 (40%) | ||
| Amendment 2 | State executive official measures | The New Mexico Public Regulation Commissioner Qualifications Amendment, also known as Constitutional Amendment 2, was a legislatively referred constitutional amendment on the November 6, 2012 ballot in the state of New Mexico, where it was approved. |
| 537,195 (81%) | 126,776 (19%) | |
| Amendment 3 | Administration of government | The New Mexico Public Regulation Commission Corporation Chartering Amendment, or Constitutional Amendment 3, was a legislatively referred constitutional amendment on the November 6, 2012 ballot in the state of New Mexico, where it was approved. |
| 322,861 (51%) | 313,283 (49%) | |
| Amendment 4 | Administrative organization | The New Mexico Public Regulation Commission Insurance Division Amendment, or Constitutional Amendment 4, was a legislatively referred constitutional amendment on the November 6, 2012 ballot in the state of New Mexico, where it was approved. |
| 327,097 (51%) | 317,890 (49%) | |
| Amendment 5 | State judiciary structure | The New Mexico Public Defender Office Amendment, also known as Constitutional Amendment 5, was a legislatively referred constitutional amendment on the November 6, 2012 ballot in the state of New Mexico, where it was approved. |
| 399,428 (62%) | 244,953 (38%) | |
| Bond Question B | Bond issues |
| 415,068 (62%) | 254,099 (38%) | ||
| Bond Question C | Higher education funding; Bond issues; Public education funding |
| 411,017 (61%) | 261,406 (39%) | ||
| Question A | Bond issues | New Mexico Bond Question A was a legislatively referred bond question on the November 6, 2012 ballot in the state of New Mexico, where it was approved. |
| 416,513 (62%) | 250,481 (38%) |
2010
See also: New Mexico 2010 ballot measures
November 2
| Type | Title | Subject | Result | Yes Votes | No Votes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amendment 1 | Veterans policy |
| 408,467 (77%) | 119,043 (23%) | |
| Amendment 2 | Local official term limits |  | 90,932 (17%) | 431,989 (83%) | |
| Amendment 4 | Veterans policy; Taxes |
| 298,830 (58%) | 216,706 (42%) | |
| Amendment 5 | Civil service | | 115,592 (23%) | 394,039 (77%) | |
| Amendment B | Voter registration; Residency voting requirements; Constitutional wording changes |
| 290,091 (57%) | 219,593 (43%) | |
| Question A | Bond issues |
| 274,229 (54%) | 235,360 (46%) | |
| Question B | Bond issues |
| 271,476 (52%) | 245,971 (48%) | |
| Question C | Bond issues; Education |
| 317,517 (61%) | 204,422 (39%) | |
| Question D | Bond issues; Education | | 259,418 (50%) | 260,581 (50%) |
2008
See also: New Mexico 2008 ballot measures
November 4
| Type | Title | Subject | Description | Result | Yes Votes | No Votes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amendment 1 | Public education governance; Absentee and mail voting |
| 368,438 (53%) | 323,553 (47%) | ||
| Amendment 2 | Salaries of government officials | | 184,781 (27%) | 511,900 (73%) | ||
| Amendment 3 | State executive powers and duties |
| 490,160 (72%) | 191,299 (28%) | ||
| Amendment 4 | Local government officials and elections; Public education governance | Allow school elections to be held at the same time as nonpartisan elections |
| 512,962 (74%) | 175,767 (26%) | |
| Amendment 5 | State executive elections |
| 477,975 (69%) | 215,727 (31%) | ||
| Question 1 | Bond issues |
| 411,820 (59%) | 283,076 (41%) | ||
| Question 2 | Bond issues |
| 361,995 (52%) | 329,788 (48%) | ||
| Question 3 | Bond issues |
| 453,264 (65%) | 244,173 (35%) | ||
| Question 4 | Bond issues |
| 401,514 (58%) | 295,583 (42%) |
2006
See also: New Mexico 2006 ballot measures
November 7
| Type | Title | Subject | Result | Yes Votes | No Votes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amendment 1 | Immigration policy |
| 330,309 (77%) | 97,095 (23%) | |
| Amendment 2 | Debt limits |
| 337,019 (70%) | 142,568 (30%) | |
| Amendment 3 | Water |
| 312,764 (68%) | 149,344 (32%) | |
| Amendment 4 | Housing |
| 266,861 (62%) | 163,136 (38%) | |
| Question A | Bond issues |
| 302,220 (59%) | 213,468 (41%) | |
| Question B | Higher education funding; Bond issues |
| 268,216 (59%) | 183,472 (41%) | |
| Question C | Bond issues |
| 275,145 (56%) | 216,163 (44%) |
2004
See also: New Mexico 2004 ballot measures
November 7
| Type | Title | Subject | Result | Yes Votes | No Votes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Question A | Bond issues |
| 407,124 (68%) | 188,026 (32%) | |
| Question B | Bond issues |
| 379,703 (61%) | 241,433 (39%) | |
| Question D | Bond issues |
| 411,723 (60%) | 269,506 (40%) |
November 2
| Type | Title | Subject | Result | Yes Votes | No Votes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Measure 3 | Runoff elections; Local government officials and elections |
| 419,251 (78%) | 120,206 (22%) | |
| Measure 4 | Taxes |
| 452,386 (68%) | 214,844 (32%) | |
| Measure 5 | Administration of government |
| 462,144 (69%) | 212,297 (31%) | |
| Question C | Bond issues |
| 380,167 (59%) | 266,519 (41%) |
2003
See also: New Mexico 2003 ballot measures
September 23
| Type | Title | Subject | Result | Yes Votes | No Votes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amendment 1 | Education; Administration of government |
| 101,542 (55%) | 83,155 (45%) | |
| Amendment 2 | Education; State and local government budgets, spending, and finance |
| 92,198 (50%) | 92,003 (50%) |
2002
See also: New Mexico 2002 ballot measures
November 5
2000
See also: New Mexico 2000 ballot measures
November 7
| Type | Title | Subject | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| Issue A | Bond issues |
| |
| Issue B | Education; Bond issues |
| |
| Issue C | Bond issues | | |
| Question 1 | Administration of government |
| |
| Question 2 | Local official term limits | |
1998
See also: New Mexico 1998 ballot measures
November 3
1996
See also: New Mexico 1996 ballot measures
November 5
| Type | Title | Subject | Result | Yes Votes | No Votes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amendment 1 | State and local government budgets, spending, and finance |
| 307,442 (67%) | 153,021 (33%) | |
| Amendment 2 | Public education funding |
| 238,126 (51%) | 230,850 (49%) | |
| Amendment 3 | Recall process |
| 330,258 (71%) | 132,969 (29%) | |
| Amendment 4 | State constitutional conventions; Ballot measure process |
| 294,328 (64%) | 166,415 (36%) | |
| Amendment 5 | Administration of government |
| 309,927 (67%) | 155,265 (33%) | |
| Amendment 6 | Administration of government |
| 232,788 (51%) | 221,693 (49%) | |
| Amendment 7 | Administration of government; Public land policy; Land use and development policy |
| 228,751 (50%) | 227,580 (50%) |
1992
See also: New Mexico 1992 ballot measures
November 2
| Type | Title | Subject | Description | Result | Yes Votes | No Votes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Constitutional Amendment No. 2 | Crime victims' rights | The amendment addressed crime victims' rights. |
| 324,509 (69%) | 148,419 (31%) |
1990
See also: New Mexico 1990 ballot measures
November 6
| Type | Title | Subject | Description | Result | Yes Votes | No Votes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Constitutional Amendment No. 1 | State and local government budgets, spending, and finance; Public education funding | The ballot proposal allowed for improvement of the management of the permanent funds. |
| 188,346 (60%) | 127,782 (40%) | |
| Constitutional Amendment No. 2 | State and local government budgets, spending, and finance | The ballot proposal would have removed constitutional language limiting how the state investment officer handles money in the permanent funds. | | 136,941 (45%) | 168,666 (55%) | |
| Constitutional Amendment No. 3 | Salaries of government officials | The ballot proposal would have increased the legislative per diem and provided a monthly salary. | | 78,431 (25%) | 232,971 (75%) | |
| Constitutional Amendment No. 4 | State and local government budgets, spending, and finance | The ballot proposal would have allowed any part of the state to undertake limited financial obligations that are payable from the general revenues. | | 97,132 (32%) | 208,643 (68%) | |
| Constitutional Amendment No. 5 | Administration of government | The ballot proposal would have allowed for the clarification of the Commissioner of Public Lands to exchange lands under his control. | | 128,987 (42%) | 175,984 (58%) | |
| General Obligation Bond Act | Bond issues | The bond act would have allowed for the issuance of $45.72 million in bonds for capital expenditures. | | 148,214 (48%) | 160,372 (52%) | |
| Land Acquisition Bonds | Bond issues | The bond act would have allowed for the issuance of $225,000 for land acquisition. | | 141,911 (47%) | 162,293 (53%) | |
| Natural History Museum Bonds | Bond issues | The bond act would have allowed for the issuance of $775,000 in bonds for renovations to the New Mexico Museum of Natural History. | | 138,261 (45%) | 167,625 (55%) | |
| Red Rock State Park Bonds | Bond issues | The bond act would have allowed for the issuance of $275,000 in bonds for the expansion of Red Rock State Park Convention Center. | | 103,905 (35%) | 189,112 (65%) | |
| Senior Citizens' Facilities Bonds | Bond issues | The bond act allowed for the issuance of $1,925,000 in bonds for the capital expenditures of certain senior citizens' facilities and equipment. |
| 161,150 (52%) | 146,095 (48%) | |
| State Library Bonds | Bond issues | The bond act would have allowed for the issuance of $625,000 of bonds for the expenditures for planning a new state library. | | 137,636 (45%) | 169,330 (55%) |
1988
See also: New Mexico 1988 ballot measures
November 8
| Type | Title | Subject | Description | Result | Yes Votes | No Votes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Constitutional Amendment No. 1 | State legislatures measures | The ballot proposal allowed for the restriction of legislative retirement. | | 162,657 (44%) | 207,133 (56%) | |
| Constitutional Amendment No. 2 | State legislatures measures | The ballot proposal allowed for the removal of gubernatorial appointees as provided by law. |
| 224,091 (61%) | 145,206 (39%) | |
| Constitutional Amendment No. 3 | Family-related policy; Taxes | The ballot proposal allowed for the increase of property tax exemption for the head of a family. |
| 282,926 (75%) | 93,218 (25%) | |
| Constitutional Amendment No. 4 | Debt limits | The ballot proposal allowed for counties to go into debt for books and library resources. |
| 228,519 (62%) | 140,676 (38%) | |
| Constitutional Amendment No. 5 | Bail policy; Criminal trials | The ballot proposal restricted bail for convicted persons. |
| 278,909 (75%) | 95,156 (25%) | |
| Constitutional Amendment No. 6 | State judiciary | The ballot proposal allowed for judicial reform. |
| 203,509 (56%) | 159,957 (44%) | |
| Constitutional Amendment No. 7 | Local government officials and elections; Local official term limits | The ballot proposal allowed for the creation of five-member boards of county commissioners and limited terms of county officials. |
| 230,390 (65%) | 123,799 (35%) | |
| Education Bond | Bond issues; Higher education funding | The ballot question allowed for the issuance of $50,550,000 in bonds for capital expenditures of stated educational institutions. |
| 204,753 (59%) | 145,052 (41%) | |
| Land Acquisition Bonds | Property; Bond issues | The ballot question allowed for the issuance of $425,000 in bonds for the acquisition of land. |
| 217,154 (62%) | 132,705 (38%) | |
| Library Bonds | Bond issues | The ballot question allowed for the issuance of $1,525,000 for books and audio-visual materials for public libraries. |
| 213,113 (61%) | 136,141 (39%) | |
| Senior Citizens Facilities Bond | Bond issues; Healthcare facility funding | The ballot question allowed for the issuance of $1,155,000 in bonds for capital expenditures of senior citizens' facilities and equipment. |
| 211,312 (60%) | 138,046 (40%) |
1986
See also: New Mexico 1986 ballot measures
November 4
| Type | Title | Subject | Description | Result | Yes Votes | No Votes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Constitutional Amendment No. 1 | Public education governance | The ballot proposal allowed for the New Mexico Legislature to determine procedures for the recall of local school board members. |
| 178,149 (63%) | 103,483 (37%) | |
| Constitutional Amendment No. 10 | Workers' compensation laws; Administrative organization | The ballot proposal allowed for the creation of a workmen's compensation body. |
| 173,989 (65%) | 92,419 (35%) | |
| Constitutional Amendment No. 11 | Executive official term limits | The ballot proposal limited state executive officers to two consecutive four-year terms to start on January 1, 1991. |
| 168,850 (61%) | 106,013 (39%) | |
| Constitutional Amendment No. 2 | Firearms policy | The ballot proposal prohibited municipalities and counties from regulating the right to keep and bear arms. |
| 179,716 (62%) | 111,517 (38%) | |
| Constitutional Amendment No. 3 | Local government officials and elections; Residency voting requirements | The ballot proposal addressed residence in municipalities. |
| 181,880 (68%) | 84,964 (32%) | |
| Constitutional Amendment No. 4 | State and local government budgets, spending, and finance; Banking policy | The ballot proposal allowed the state to deposit money in credit unions if it was federally insured. |
| 198,766 (72%) | 78,948 (28%) | |
| Constitutional Amendment No. 5 | Law enforcement officers and departments | The ballot proposal extended the capabilities of law enforcement. |
| 181,813 (66%) | 93,731 (34%) | |
| Constitutional Amendment No. 6 | Administration of government; State executive official measures | The ballot proposal added interim hearings for confirmations of gubernatorial appointments. |
| 161,322 (61%) | 103,134 (39%) | |
| Constitutional Amendment No. 7 | Public education governance | The ballot proposal allowed for the expansion of the state board of education. |
| 142,909 (53%) | 126,928 (47%) | |
| Constitutional Amendment No. 8 | Higher education governance | The ballot proposal expanded the University of New Mexico Board of Regents from five to seven. |
| 164,385 (60%) | 108,118 (40%) | |
| Constitutional Amendment No. 9 | Local official term limits | The ballot proposal would have allowed for four consecutive terms for county officers. | | 119,504 (43%) | 156,177 (57%) | |
| Educational Bond Act | Bond issues; Higher education funding | The bond act allowed for the issuance of $35 million in funds for capital expenditures at certain educational institutions. |
| 153,317 (59%) | 104,540 (41%) |
1984
See also: New Mexico 1984 ballot measures
November 6
| Type | Title | Subject | Description | Result | Yes Votes | No Votes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Constitutional Amendment No. 1 | Local government organization | The referendum required new services on the county and municipal level be funded before they can have the force of law. |
| 220,101 (77%) | 64,684 (23%) |
1982
See also: New Mexico 1982 ballot measures
November 2
| Type | Title | Subject | Description | Result | Yes Votes | No Votes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Constitutional Amendment No. 1 | State judiciary | The referendum would have allowed for changes to be made to New Mexico Constitution that provided for judicial selection and tenure. | | 117,601 (46%) | 139,643 (54%) | |
| Constitutional Amendment No. 2 | State legislatures measures; State and local government budgets, spending, and finance | The referendum removed the ability of the New Mexico Legislature to appropriate funds from the severance tax permanent fund. |
| 125,727 (50%) | 125,324 (50%) | |
| Constitutional Amendment No. 3 | Taxes | The referendum would have allowed for a $3,000 income tax exemption for money received from belonging to the New Mexico National Guard. | | 113,247 (44%) | 143,574 (56%) | |
| Constitutional Amendment No. 4 | Local official term limits | The referendum would have allowed for county sheriffs to serve as many two-year terms to which they were elected. | | 109,611 (43%) | 142,871 (57%) | |
| Constitutional Amendment No. 5 | Salaries of government officials | The referendum limited the per diem and mileage allowance for legislators. |
| 148,486 (57%) | 112,763 (43%) | |
| Constitutional Amendment No. 6 | Business regulations | The referendum allowed for directory advertising and other expenses to be used for fixing rates for telephone and telegraph companies. |
| 201,014 (77%) | 60,212 (23%) | |
| Constitutional Amendment No. 7 | Local government finance and taxes | The referendum allowed for counties to take on debt when used for certain projects. |
| 156,113 (62%) | 97,644 (38%) |
1980
See also: New Mexico 1980 ballot measures
November 4
| Type | Title | Subject | Description | Result | Yes Votes | No Votes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Constitutional Amendment No. 2 | Constitutional wording changes; Public education governance | The referendum allowed for large school districts to have seven elected school board members. |
| 147,035 (61%) | 95,385 (39%) | |
| Constitutional Amendment No. 3 | Constitutional wording changes; Bail policy | The referendum allowed for the limiting of bail in certain circumstances. |
| 157,992 (64%) | 88,033 (36%) | |
| Constitutional Amendment No. 4 | Constitutional wording changes; State executive official measures | The referendum would have allowed for state executive officers to serve two consecutive four-year terms in office. | | 107,676 (44%) | 138,393 (56%) | |
| Constitutional Amendment No. 5 | Constitutional wording changes; Jury rules; Criminal trials | The referendum changed the number of signatures needed to require a convention of a grand jury. |
| 124,996 (54%) | 108,056 (46%) | |
| Constitutional Amendment No. 6 | Constitutional wording changes; Salaries of government officials | The referendum would have increased the amount legislators were reimbursed for expenses incurred as part of their duties. | | 105,693 (43%) | 138,339 (57%) | |
| Constitution Amendment No. 1 | Constitutional wording changes | The referendum allowed for five county commissioners in class B counties. |
| 132,542 (57%) | 100,449 (43%) |
1978
See also: New Mexico 1978 ballot measures
November 7
| Type | Title | Subject | Description | Result | Yes Votes | No Votes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Constitutional Amendment No. 1 | Constitutional wording changes; State judiciary | The referendum allowed the Judicial Standards Committee to recommend the discipline or removal of judicial officials. |
| 142,468 (73%) | 52,165 (27%) | |
| Constitutional Amendment No. 2 | State judiciary; Constitutional wording changes | The referendum allowed for the appointment of retired judges and justices to pro tempore positions. |
| 103,611 (54%) | 87,669 (46%) | |
| Constitutional Amendment No. 3 | Constitutional wording changes; Taxes | The referendum would have allowed for the accrual of property tax of certain elderly taxpayers to be held until the transfer of property. | | 78,796 (41%) | 113,034 (59%) | |
| Constitutional Amendment No. 4 | Constitutional wording changes; Salaries of government officials | The referendum would have provided limitations of reimbursements for expenses of state legislators. | | 90,068 (47%) | 103,213 (53%) |
1974
See also: New Mexico 1974 ballot measures
November 5
| Type | Title | Subject | Description | Result | Yes Votes | No Votes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amendment No. 1 | Constitutional wording changes; Salaries of government officials | The referendum would have allowed for an updated legislative compensation section of the Constitution of New Mexico. | | 47,104 (38%) | 75,618 (62%) | |
| Amendment No. 2 | Constitutional wording changes; Taxes | The referendum would have barred the levying of taxes by parts of the government that do not have legislation stating that they may. |
| 62,103 (50%) | 62,083 (50%) | |
| Amendment No. 3 | Higher education funding; Constitutional wording changes | The referendum allowed for the establishment of a loans program for students of the healing arts. |
| 77,761 (61%) | 49,294 (39%) |
1973
See also: New Mexico 1973 ballot measures
November 6
| Type | Title | Subject | Description | Result | Yes Votes | No Votes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Constitutional Amendment No. 1 | Constitutional wording changes | The referendum removed discrimination based on sex in qualifying to hold public office. |
| 33,215 (77%) | 9,783 (23%) | |
| Constitutional Amendment No. 2 | Constitutional wording changes | The referendum removed discrimination based on sex in veteran's property tax exemption. |
| 31,258 (73%) | 11,294 (27%) | |
| Constitutional Amendment No. 3 | Constitutional wording changes | The referendum allowed for the recall of local school board members. |
| 22,227 (53%) | 19,929 (47%) | |
| Constitutional Amendment No. 4 | Constitutional wording changes | The referendum addressed the qualifications for voting. |
| 25,198 (60%) | 16,455 (40%) | |
| Constitutional Amendment No. 5 | Constitutional wording changes | The referendum created five-member boards of county commissioners in counties with populations of 100,000 or greater. |
| 20,369 (51%) | 19,865 (49%) | |
| Constitutional Amendment No. 6 | Constitutional wording changes; Taxes | The referendum allowed for certain personal properties to be exempt from taxation. |
| 27,474 (66%) | 13,899 (34%) | |
| Constitutional Amendment No. 7 | Constitutional wording changes | The referendum would have removed term limits and added an age limitation for county officers. | | 18,825 (45%) | 23,121 (55%) |
1972
See also: New Mexico 1972 ballot measures
November 7
| Type | Title | Subject | Description | Result | Yes Votes | No Votes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amendment No. 2 | Taxes; Constitutional wording changes | The referendum allowed for the taxation of commercial church property and provided exemptions for personal property. |
| 141,622 (66%) | 73,386 (34%) | |
| Amendment No. 3 | Constitutional wording changes; Jury rules | The referendum would have reduced the number of jurors required for a case down to six. | | 83,489 (39%) | 128,595 (61%) | |
| Constitutional Amendment 1 | Constitutional rights; Sex and gender issues | The referendum allows for equality of rights for persons regardless of sex. |
| 155,633 (71%) | 64,823 (29%) | |
| the Bond Act | Bond issues | The bond act allowed for the issuing of $2,000,000 in bonds each year from 1973 to 1977. |
| 121,337 (58%) | 89,094 (42%) |
1970
See also: New Mexico 1970 ballot measures
November 3
| Type | Title | Subject | Description | Result | Yes Votes | No Votes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Constitutional Amendment No. 1 | Constitutional wording changes; Housing | The referendum proposed amending the constitution to provide for the Municipal Home Rule. |
| 77,095 (56%) | 60,867 (44%) | |
| Constitutional Amendment No. 2 | Constitutional wording changes | The referendum proposed updating Article 7 of the New Mexico Constitution as it related to the Elective Franchise. |
| 67,299 (52%) | 63,279 (48%) | |
| Constitutional Amendment No. 3 | Constitutional wording changes; State executive official measures | The referendum amended Article 5, Section 1 of the Constitution of New Mexico. The section dealt with the terms of state executive officers. |
| 79,722 (57%) | 59,426 (43%) | |
| Constitutional Amendment No. 4 | Constitutional wording changes; Public education funding | The referendum would have repealed the state levy for the school fund. | | 60,531 (47%) | 68,720 (53%) | |
| Constitutional Amendment No. 5 | Constitutional wording changes | The referendum would have amended Article 19 of the New Mexico Constitution. | | 57,778 (46%) | 67,889 (54%) | |
| Constitutional Amendment No. 6 | Constitutional wording changes; Public education governance | The referendum would have removed the board of regents of state educational institutions. | | 56,047 (43%) | 74,927 (57%) | |
| Constitutional Amendment No. 7 | Constitutional wording changes; Higher education funding | The referendum would have allowed for the establishment of a state-run student loan program. | | 57,864 (43%) | 78,061 (57%) | |
| Constitutional Amendment No. 8 | Constitutional wording changes; Taxes | The referendum would have allowed for the adoption of a new Article 8, which related to taxation and revenue. | | 65,552 (48%) | 71,537 (52%) |
1968
See also: New Mexico 1968 ballot measures
November 5
| Type | Title | Subject | Description | Result | Yes Votes | No Votes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1968 constitution revision | Constitutional wording changes; State constitutional conventions | The referendum allowed the revision of several sections of the New Mexico Constitution. |
| 4,185 (68%) | 1,956 (32%) |
1964
See also: New Mexico 1964 ballot measures
November 3
| Type | Title | Subject | Description | Result | Yes Votes | No Votes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Constitutional Amendment No. 5 | Sex and gender issues; American Indian issues; Absentee and mail voting | The proposed measure permitted a constitutional amendment that allowed for absentee voting and the removal of restrictions for women and Indian voters. |
| 106,579 (82%) | 23,694 (18%) | |
| Nominating Conventions for Candidates Referendum | Elections and campaigns | | 29,716 (26%) | 85,513 (74%) |
1960
See also: New Mexico 1960 ballot measures
November 8
| Type | Title | Subject | Description | Result | Yes Votes | No Votes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Constitutional Amendment No. 5 | State executive official measures | The proposed measure would have allowed for a constitutional amendment addressing term limits for executive officers. | | 49,751 (41%) | 71,987 (59%) |
1958
See also: New Mexico 1958 ballot measures
November 4
| Type | Title | Subject | Description | Result | Yes Votes | No Votes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Constitutional Amendment No. 5 | County and municipal governance | The proposed measure would have allowed for a constitutional amendment addressing term limits for county officers. | | 41,443 (48%) | 44,442 (52%) |
1950
See also: New Mexico 1950 ballot measures
November 7
| Type | Title | Subject | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nominating Conventions for Candidates Referendum | Elections and campaigns |
|
1948
See also: New Mexico 1948 ballot measures
November 2
| Type | Title | Subject | Description | Result | Yes Votes | No Votes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Constitutional Amendment No. 4 | Local official term limits | The proposed measure would have allowed for a constitutional amendment that established four-year terms for county officers. | | 27,349 (46%) | 31,981 (54%) | |
| Constitutional Amendment No. 5 | Executive official term limits | The proposed measure would have allowed for a constitutional amendment that addressed term limits for executive officers. | | 28,914 (49%) | 30,364 (51%) |
1942
See also: New Mexico 1942 ballot measures
November 3
| Type | Title | Subject | Description | Result | Yes Votes | No Votes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Constitutional Amendment No. 3 | Agriculture policy | The proposition would have allowed for a constitutional amendment addressing contracts for agricultural and grazing leases. | | 14,589 (45%) | 17,624 (55%) |
1930
See also: New Mexico 1930 ballot measures
November 4
| Type | Title | Subject | Result | Yes Votes | No Votes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Two-Cent Tax on Cigarettes Referendum | Taxes; Tobacco laws | | 9,847 (16%) | 53,668 (84%) |
1911
See also: New Mexico 1911 ballot measures
January 21
| Type | Title | Subject | Description | Result | Yes Votes | No Votes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| State Constitution Ratification Question | State constitution ratification | Ratify the New Mexico Constitution |
| 31,742 (70%) | 13,399 (30%) |
Types of ballot measures in New Mexico
- See also: Types of ballot measures in New Mexico
Citizen-initiated ballot measures
In New Mexico, citizens have the power to initiate veto referendums. The power was established with the adoption of the New Mexico Constitution in 1910.
Veto referendums
- See also: Veto referendum
A veto referendum is a citizen-initiated ballot measure that asks voters whether to uphold or repeal an enacted law. This type of ballot measure is also called statute referendum, popular referendum, people's veto, or citizen's veto. There are 23 states that allow citizens to initiate veto referendums.
In New Mexico, the number of signatures required to place a veto referendum on the ballot is equal to 10% of the total number of votes cast in the previous general election. To suspend the law until voters address the veto referendum, signatures equal to 25% of the total number of votes cast in the previous general election are required. New Mexico also has a distribution requirement that requires 10% or 25% of the votes cast in the last general election, depending on the type of referendum petition, to be collected from registered voters in each of three-fourths (25) of the state's 33 counties.
For referendum petitions not seeking to suspend the law, signatures are due four months prior to the state's general election immediately following the legislative session in which the targeted law was approved. For referendum petitions seeking to suspend the law prior to the election, signatures are due no more than 90 days after the adjournment of the legislative session at which the targeted law was approved. For both types of referendum, rejection of the targeted law requires a simple majority of votes cast on the measure and a minimum of 40% of the total votes cast at the election.
Legislative referrals
Legislatively referred constitutional amendments
A simple majority vote is required during one legislative session for the New Mexico State Legislature to place a constitutional amendment on the ballot. That amounts to a minimum of 36 votes in the New Mexico House of Representatives and 22 votes in the New Mexico State Senate, assuming no vacancies. Amendments do not require the governor's signature to be referred to the ballot.
Legislatively referred bond measures
- See also: Legislatively referred bond measure
In New Mexico, general obligation bonds require voter approval.
A simple majority vote is required during one legislative session for the New Mexico State Legislature to place a bond issue on the ballot. That amounts to a minimum of 36 votes in the New Mexico House of Representatives and 22 votes in the New Mexico State Senate, assuming no vacancies. State bond issues require the governor's signature to be referred to the ballot. The governor can use a partial veto to remove projects from bond legislation.
Constitutional convention questions
- See also: Constitutional convention question
A two-thirds (66.67%) 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.
See also
- • Campaign finance
- • Endorsements
- • Polls
Footnotes
