MILD
HB 501
QUESTIONS WITH FORCE OF LAW ON BALLOT
- Legislative URL:
- HB 501 on nmlegis.gov
- Emergency Clause:
- No
- Germane:
- N/A
- Location:
- SRC
- Action:
- [13] HJC/HGEIC-HJC [31] DP/a-HGEIC [36] DP [39] fl/a- PASSED/H (40-19) [41] SRC API.
- Issue(s):
- General Interest
Related Legislators
- Bill Sponsor:
- Zachary Cook
Related Documents
- Downloads:
-
Introduced
HJC Committee Report
HGEIC Committee Report
Final House Vote
Fiscal Impact Report
Summary
This bill provides that only questions having the force of law may be placed on a statewide or county election ballot. In no case may a question be included on the ballot that is nonbinding and merely advisory in nature.
On March 9th the House Judiciary Committee amended HB 501:
- to increase from 30 to 56 the number of days prior to an election that a copy of the resolution putting a question on the ballot must be sent to the Secretary of State; and
- to provide that a question may not be included on the ballot that is nonbinding or (instead of and) merely advisory in nature.
Possible concerns regarding this bill may include that it prevents a valid form of communication by the electorate to lawmakers on issues of importance to the people; and that such issues when placed on a ballot tend to encourage voter turnout, a benefit that this bill would eliminate.