New Mexico Bond Question D, Higher Education, Special Schools, and Tribal Schools (2018)
- General election: Nov. 6
- Voter registration deadline: Oct. 9
- Early voting: Oct. 20 - Nov. 3
- Absentee voting deadline: Nov. 6
- Online registration: Yes
- Same-day registration: No
- Voter ID: No
- Poll times: 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.
| New Mexico Bond Question D | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Election date November 6, 2018 | |
| Topic Bond issues and Education | |
Status Approved | |
| Type Bond issue | Origin State Legislature |
New Mexico Bond Question D, the Higher Education, Special Schools, and Tribal Schools Bond, was on the ballot in New Mexico as a legislatively referred bond question on November 6, 2018.[1] The measure was approved.
| A "yes" vote supported authorizing the sale and issuance of $136.230 million in bonds for institutions of higher education, special schools, and tribal schools. |
| A "no" vote opposed authorizing the sale and issuance of $136.230 million in bonds for institutions of higher education, special schools, and tribal schools. |
Election results
|
New Mexico Bond Question D |
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|---|---|---|---|---|
| Result | Votes | Percentage | ||
|
|
413,105 | 65.80% | ||
| No | 214,752 | 34.20% | ||
Overview
Bond Question D issued no more than $136.230 million in general obligation bonds for institutions of higher education, special schools, and tribal schools. Projects were to include infrastructure improvements, renovations, planning and construction of new buildings, repairs, and demolitions. A general obligation bond is a public debt and is paid for through state funds, specifically funds from a statewide property tax in New Mexico. The bond measure was to be distributed as follows:[1]
Click show to expand the bond revenue table.
| New Mexico Bond Question D (2018) | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Recipient | Amount | ||
| Eastern New Mexico University—Roswell for renovations to the automotive and welding building | $3,000,000 | ||
| Eastern New Mexico University—Ruidoso for campuswide infrastructure improvements | $500,000 | ||
| Eastern New Mexico University—Portales for phase 1 renovations to the Roosevelt science hall | $8,000,000 | ||
| Central New Mexico Community College—Albuquerque for renovations to the Ken Chappy hall art facility and for campuswide infrastructure upgrades and repairs at the main campus | $7,500,000 | ||
| Southwestern Indian Polytechnic Institute—Albuquerque for campuswide infrastructure improvements | $650,000 | ||
| Clovis Community College—Clovis to plan and construct roof and parking lot replacement and repairs campuswide | $1,500,000 | ||
| New Mexico Junior College—Hobbs for renovations at McLean hall and for campuswide infrastructure improvements | $2,500,000 | ||
| Navajo Technical University—Crownpoint to plan and construct a new academic building, including site improvements and sidewalks | $3,700,000 | ||
| Mesalands Community College—Tucumcari for renovations, including demolition and abatement of hazardous materials, at building A | $800,000 | ||
| Dine College—Shiprock to plan and construct phase 1 of a math and science building | $5,000,000 | ||
| San Juan College—Farmington for campuswide infrastructure improvements, including fire tower demolition, site reclamation and roof replacements | $520,000 | ||
| Institute of American Indian Arts—Santa Fe for heating, ventilation, and air conditioning system upgrades in the academic building and for code compliance improvements | $800,000 | ||
| Santa Fe Community College—Santa Fe for campuswide infrastructure improvements | $2,000,000 | ||
| Santa Fe Community College—Santa Fe to plan and construct a trades and advanced technology center and for campuswide infrastructure improvements | $3,000,000 | ||
| Santa Fe Indian School—Santa Fe for an access lane and other road improvements | $900,000 | ||
| New Mexico Highlands University—Las Vegas for campuswide infrastructure upgrades | $4,000,000 | ||
| New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology—Socorro for renovations at Brown hall and for campuswide infrastructure improvements, including parking lots and safety lighting upgrades | $7,100,000 | ||
| New Mexico Military Institute—Roswell for renovations of barracks sink rooms, including demolition and abatement of hazardous materials | $3,750,000 | ||
| New Mexico Military Institute—Roswell for renovations, including code compliance improvements and demolition, at John Ross Thomas hall and Vertrees, Moore and Vlahopoulos hall | $4,500,000 | ||
| New Mexico School for the Deaf—Santa Fe for renovations to the Lars M. Larson Roadrunner activity center and residential complex, including site and code compliance improvements | $1,800,000 | ||
| New Mexico State University—Grants for improvements at Martinez hall, including roof and code compliance improvements | $1,500,000 | ||
| New Mexico State University—Las Cruces for improvements to the agricultural modernization and education facilities, including site improvements and demolition, for the college of agricultural, consumer and environmental sciences | $25,000,000 | ||
| New Mexico State University—Dona Ana County for infrastructure improvements campuswide, including roof repair and replacement | $1,700,000 | ||
| New Mexico State University—Carlsbad for infrastructure improvements campuswide, including roof repair and replacement | $1,000,000 | ||
| New Mexico State University—Carlsbad to renovate and equip the learning assistance center | $600,000 | ||
| New Mexico State University—Alamogordo to remove and replace the roof at the Tays center and to improve infrastructure campuswide | $1,400,000 | ||
| University of New Mexico—Albuquerque for phase 2 renovations at Clark hall chemistry building | $16,000,000 | ||
| University of New Mexico—Albuquerque for renovations at existing reserve officer training corps facilities | $6,800,000 | ||
| University of New Mexico—Taos for new college pathways to careers center at the Klauer campus | $4,300,000 | ||
| Western New Mexico University—Silver City to plan and construct the Harlan hall science building and infrastructure improvements at other campuses | $6,000,000 | ||
What was the history of bond measures in New Mexico?
Voters of New Mexico cast ballots on 21 bond issues, totaling $1.04 billion in value, between January 1, 2006, and January 1, 2018. All but one bond issue question—a $155.57 million bond for higher education—was approved. As of June 30, 2017, the state debt from general obligation bonds was $300.18 million and the state debt from general obligation bonds per state resident was $143.76. Both the general obligation bond debt and per resident bond debt in 2017 were lower than amounts (in current dollars) from the prior decade.
Text of measure
Ballot title
The ballot title was as follows:[1]
| “ |
Bond Question D The 2018 Capital Projects General Obligation Bond Act authorizes the issuance and sale of higher education, special schools and tribal schools capital improvement and acquisition bonds. Shall the state be authorized to issue general obligation bonds in an amount not to exceed one hundred thirty-six million two hundred thirty thousand dollars ($136,230,000) to make capital expenditures for certain higher education, special schools and tribal schools capital improvements and acquisitions and provide for a general property tax imposition and levy for the payment of principal of, interest on and expenses incurred in connection with the issuance of the bonds and the collection of the tax as permitted by law?[2] |
” |
Readability score
- See also: Ballot measure readability scores, 2018
| Using the Flesch-Kincaid Grade Level (FKGL and Flesch Reading Ease (FRE) formulas, Ballotpedia scored the readability of the ballot title and summary for this measure. Readability scores are designed to indicate the reading difficulty of text. The Flesch-Kincaid formulas account for the number of words, syllables, and sentences in a text; they do not account for the difficulty of the ideas in the text. The state legislature wrote the ballot language for this measure.
In 2018, for the 167 statewide measures on the ballot, the average ballot title or question was written at a level appropriate for those with between 19 and 20 years of U.S. formal education (graduate school-level of education), according to the FKGL formula. Read Ballotpedia's entire 2018 ballot language readability report here. |
Campaign finance
| Total campaign contributions: | |
| Support: | $331,188.09 |
| Opposition: | $0.00 |
There was one ballot measure committee registered in support of the measure—G.O. Bonds for Education. The committee had raised $331,188 and spent $251,964. The largest donors to the committee were the NMSU Main Campus Foundation, which donated $64,750, and the University of New Mexico Foundation, which donated $64,300.[3]
There were no ballot measure committees registered in opposition to the measure.[3]
Support
The following were contribution and expenditure totals for the committee supporting the measure.[3]
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Donors
The following were the top five donors who contributed to the support campaign:[3]
| Donor | Cash | In-kind | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| NMSU Main Campus Foundation | $64,750.00 | $0.00 | $64,750.00 |
| University of New Mexico Foundation | $64,300.00 | $0.00 | $64,300.00 |
| CNM Foundation | $26,500.00 | $0.00 | $26,500.00 |
| ENMU Foundation | $22,250.00 | $0.00 | $22,250.00 |
| Santa Fe Community College Foundation | $11,650.00 | $0.00 | $11,650.00 |
Methodology
To read Ballotpedia's methodology for covering ballot measure campaign finance information, click here.
Background
Bond issues on the ballot in New Mexico
- See also: Bond issues on the ballot
Voters of New Mexico cast ballots on 21 bond issues, totaling $1.04 billion in value, from January 1, 2006, through January 1, 2018. All but one bond issue, a $155.57 million bond in 2010 to provide capital expenditures for higher education and special schools, was approved. This means that voters in New Mexico approved 95 percent of bond issues on the ballot between 2006 and 2017.
The following table contains information on the 21 bond issues that appeared on the ballot in New Mexico between January 1, 2006, through January 1, 2018:
| Year | Measure | Amount | Primary purpose | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 | Question A | $15,958,000 | Senior citizen facilities | |
| 2006 | Question B | $118,360,000 | Higher education | |
| 2006 | Question C | $9,090,000 | Public libraries | |
| 2008 | Question A | $14,725,000 | Senior citizen facilities | |
| 2008 | Question B | $11,019,000 | Public libraries | |
| 2008 | Question C | $57,925,000 | Health facilities | |
| 2008 | Question D | $140,133,000 | Higher education | |
| 2010 | Question A | $7,790,320 | Senior citizen facilities | |
| 2010 | Question B | $7,082,110 | Public libraries | |
| 2010 | Question C | $5,100,000 | K-12 education | |
| 2010 | Question D | $155,567,824 | Higher education |  |
| 2012 | Question A | $10,335,000 | Senior citizen facilities | |
| 2012 | Question B | $9,830,000 | Public libraries | |
| 2012 | Question C | $120,000,000 | Higher education | |
| 2014 | Question A | $17,000,000 | Senior citizen facilities | |
| 2014 | Question B | $11,000,000 | Public libraries | |
| 2014 | Question C | $141,000,000 | Higher education | |
| 2016 | Question A | $15,440,000 | Senior citizen facilities | |
| 2016 | Question B | $10,167,000 | Public libraries | |
| 2016 | Question C | $142,356,000 | Higher education | |
| 2016 | Question D | $18,196,000 | Public safety facilities | |
General obligation bond debt
The New Mexico state treasurer provides an overview of the state’s debt resulting from general obligation bonds, which include all voter-approved bonds, each year on June 30.[4] A general obligation bond is a public debt and is paid for through state funds, specifically funds from a statewide property tax in New Mexico.
According to the state treasurer's overview on June 30, 2017, New Mexico had $300.18 million in debt from general obligation bonds.[5] The June 2017 debt from general obligation bonds was lower than the June 2016 debt, which was $379.53 million.[6] The graph below provides an illustration of state debt from general obligation bonds between June 30, 1998, and June 30, 2017:
Using population estimates from the U.S. Census Bureau, Ballotpedia calculated the per person amount of general obligation bond debt in New Mexico by year.[7] On June 30, 2017, the general obligation bond debt per New Mexican resident was $143.76. On June 30, 2016, the per person debt was $182.38. Between 1998 and 2017, the per person debt peaked in 2008, when the per person debt was $227.14. The graph below provides an illustration of state debt from general obligation bonds per New Mexican resident between June 30, 1998, and June 30, 2017:
Path to the ballot
- See also: Legislatively-referred state statute
In New Mexico, both chambers of the New Mexico State Legislature need to approve a bond issue by a simple majority during one legislative session to refer the bond measure to the ballot for voter consideration.
The bond measure was introduced into the state legislature as Senate Bill 94 (SB 94) during the 2018 legislative session. On February 12, 2018, the New Mexico Senate approved the bond measure 38 to 0 with four members excused from voting. On February 13, 2018, the New Mexico House of Representatives approved SB 94 in a vote of 67 to 0 with three members excused. On March 7, 2018, Gov. Susana Martinez (R) signed SB 94, placing the bond measure on the ballot.[8]
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Governor's partial veto of projects
Gov. Martinez used the power of partial veto, which allows the governor to reject parts of a bill without rejecting the entire bill, to strike $7,825,000 in projects from the bond measure. The project rejected included:[1]
- $800,000 for infrastructure improvements, including roadways, parking lots, and building entrances, at Luna Community College in San Miguel County, New Mexico.
- $1,275,000 to plan and construct phase 3 renovations at the Joseph M. Montoya building at the Española campus of Northern New Mexico College in Rio Arriba County, New Mexico.
- $750,000 for infrastructure improvements, including code compliance and lighting, at the Los Alamos branch campus of the University of New Mexico in Los Alamos County, New Mexico.
- $5,000,000 for the design and construction of the Center for Career and Technical Education at the Gallup branch campus of the University of New Mexico in McKinley County, New Mexico.
How to cast a vote
- See also: Voting in New Mexico
Poll times
In New Mexico, all polls are open from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Mountain Time on Election Day. An individual who is in line at the time polls close must be allowed to vote.[9][10]
Registration requirements
- Check your voter registration status here.
To register to vote in New Mexico, each applicant must be a citizen of the United States, a resident of New Mexico, and at least 18 years old by the time of the next election. People convicted of a felony are eligible to vote after their prison time is completed, even if they are still on probation, parole, or another form of supervised release. Individuals who have been declared mentally incapacitated may not register to vote.[11]
Potential New Mexico voters who were not registered automatically may use the New Mexico voter registration form, the national voter registration form, or the state's online voter registration portal to register. Completed registration materials may be mailed or delivered by hand to election officials. To register online, an applicant must have a state-issued ID. First-time applicants registering by mail must attach a valid form of identification to their registration materials, which includes a current and valid photo identification, or, a current utility bill, bank statement, government check, paycheck, student identification card or other government document, including tribal IDs that show the voter's name and current address.[11]
Automatic registration
- See also: Automatic voter registration
New Mexico has automatic voter registration. Eligible voters are automatically registered to vote when they interact with a department of motor vehicles unless they opt out.[12][13]
Online registration
- See also: Online voter registration
New Mexico has implemented an online voter registration system. Residents can register to vote by visiting this website.
Same-day registration
- See also: Same-day voter registration
New Mexico allows same-day voter registration.[14]
Residency requirements
In New Mexico, individuals can register to vote as soon as they become residents of the state.[15]
Verification of citizenship
New Mexico does not require proof of citizenship for voter registration. An individual must attest that they are a U.S. citizen when registering to vote.[16]
All 49 states with voter registration systems require applicants to declare that they are U.S. citizens in order to register to vote in state and federal elections, under penalty of perjury or other punishment.[17] Seven states — Alabama, Arizona, Georgia, Kansas, Louisiana, New Hampshire, and Wyoming — have laws requiring verification of citizenship at the time of voter registration, whether in effect or not. One state, Ohio, requires proof of citizenship only when registering to vote at a Bureau of Motor Vehicles facility. In three states — California, Maryland, and Vermont — at least one local jurisdiction allows noncitizens to vote in some local elections. Noncitizens registering to vote in those elections must complete a voter registration application provided by the local jurisdiction and are not eligible to register as state or federal voters.
Verifying your registration
The New Mexico Secretary of State’s Office allows residents to check their voter registration status online by visiting this website.
Voter ID requirements
New Mexico does not require voters to present identification while voting, in most cases. However, if an individual registered to vote for the first time by mail and did not provide verification of his or her identity then, the voter will have to show identification.[18]
Those voters can present the following forms of identification:
- Current and valid photo identification
- Current utility bill, bank statement, government check, paycheck, student identification card, or other government document, including identification issued by an Indian nation, tribe, or pueblo that shows the voter’s name and current address
Some municipalities require identification when voting in local elections. Click here for more information.
See also
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 New Mexico State Legislature, "Senate Bill 94," accessed February 13, 2018
- ↑ Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 New Mexico Secretary of State, "Campaign Finance Information System," accessed February 13, 2018
- ↑ New Mexico State Treasurer, "State Treasurer Financial Statements," accessed March 12, 2018
- ↑ New Mexico State Treasurer, "Financial Statements – FY 2017," June 30, 2017
- ↑ New Mexico State Treasurer, "Financial Statements – FY 2016," June 30, 2016
- ↑ U.S. Census Bureau, "Population," accessed March 12, 2018
- ↑ New Mexico Legislature, "SB 94 Overview," accessed February 13, 2018
- ↑ New Mexico Compilation Commission, "New Mexico Statutes - Chapter 1, Article 12.1," accessed June 24, 2025
- ↑ New Mexico Secretary of State, "Voter Bill of Rights," accessed June 24, 2025
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 New Mexico Secretary of State, “Voter Registration Information,” accessed June 24, 2025
- ↑ New Mexico Compilation Commission, "New Mexico Statutes - Chapter 1, Article 1-4-5.2", accessed June 24, 2025
- ↑ New Mexico Compilation Commission, "New Mexico Statutes - Chapter 1, Article 1-4-5.8", accessed June 24, 2025
- ↑ New Mexico Compilation Commission, "New Mexico Statutes - Chapter 1, Article 1-4-5.7", accessed June 24, 2025
- ↑ New Mexico Secretary of State, "Voter Registration Eligibility Requirements and FAQs," accessed June 24, 2025
- ↑ The State of New Mexico, "Voter Registration Form," accessed June 24, 2025
- ↑ Under federal law, the national mail voter registration application (a version of which is in use in all states with voter registration systems) requires applicants to indicate that they are U.S. citizens in order to complete an application to vote in state or federal elections, but does not require voters to provide documentary proof of citizenship. According to the U.S. Department of Justice, the application "may require only the minimum amount of information necessary to prevent duplicate voter registrations and permit State officials both to determine the eligibility of the applicant to vote and to administer the voting process."
- ↑ New Mexico Secretary of State, "Voting," accessed June 24, 2025
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