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HOUSE JOINT MEMORIAL 19
53RD LEGISLATURE - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - SECOND SESSION, 2018
INTRODUCED BY
Antonio "Moe" Maestas and Daymon Ely
A JOINT MEMORIAL

REQUESTING THE NEW MEXICO LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TO CONVENE A TASK
FORCE TO STUDY NEEDED ELECTION REFORM.

WHEREAS, a better democracy dictates that as many citizens
as possible participate in every election, and representative
democracy is critical to New Mexico so that all voters' voices
are heard equally; and

WHEREAS, many interested parties in recent years have
proposed worthy election reform measures demonstrating that
this topic is important and relevant; and

WHEREAS, a comprehensive approach to election reform where
all ideas are heard and thoroughly vetted should yield a better
outcome than piecemeal consideration of various election reform
measures; and

WHEREAS, the interim committee process provides an
opportunity to study this complex subject in detail while
including as many stakeholders as possible;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE
STATE OF NEW MEXICO that the New Mexico legislative council be
requested to convene an interim task force to study electoral
reforms and report to the first session of the fifty-fourth
legislature its recommendations; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the reforms to be considered
for study include open primaries, nonpartisan redistricting
commissions, ranked choice voting, fair ballot access
requirements, public financing of campaigns, automatic voter
registration, fusion voting and proportional representation,
among other electoral reforms; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the task force be composed of
thirteen members: six legislative members, divided equally
between the house of representatives and senate and no more
than three members from the same party; six members of the
public; and the secretary of state as a voting member; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that at least one-half of the nonlegislative
members of the task force be individuals who are
unaffiliated with a party or who are registered with a minor
party and that the task force members be appointed by the
speaker of the house of representatives, the president pro
tempore of the senate and the minority leadership of both
chambers to ensure party affiliation equity; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this memorial be
transmitted to the New Mexico legislative council and the
secretary of state.