2023 Legislative Session

Watch this space for updates on our voting rights bills as they progress through the 60-day session.
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Information from previous sessions can be found here: 20212022.

1/17/23 — The 2023 Regular Session of the New Mexico State Legislature begins.

1/27/23 — House Bill 4, also called the 2023 New Mexico Voting Rights Act (NMVRA) is introduced. It includes provisions that inmates are eligible to vote and register to vote upon release; eliminates a requirement that a voter’s registration be canceled upon felony conviction, improves Automatic Voter Registration to be an opt-out system; improves the security of voter’s personal data; creates a voluntary permanent absentee voter list; provides requirements for the provision of monitored secured containers; enacts the Native American Voting Rights Act to protect polling place access and addresses other election issues involving voters on Indian Nation, Tribal and Pueblo land; declares election days to be a school holiday; and other technical changes.
It is sponsored by Speaker Javier Martínez, Sen. Katy M. Duhigg, and Reps. Gail Chasey, D. Wonda Johnson, and Raymundo Lara. It is referred to the House Government, Elections & Indian Affairs Committee, then the House Judiciary Committee.

1/30/23 — House Bill 217, 16- And 17-Year-Olds As Qualified Electors is introduced. This bill simply changes a qualified elector for the purpose of voting, from at least eighteen, to sixteen. It is sponsored by Representatives Christine Trujillo and Kristina Ortez. It is also referred to the House Government, Elections & Indian Affairs Committee, then the House Judiciary Committee.

2/1/23 — HB 4 is scheduled to be heard in the House Government, Elections & Indian Affairs Committee on Friday morning at 8:30am! Contact the committee – Email them, call their offices, join the hearing in Santa Fe if you can, or join the Zoom meeting on Friday morning to make your voice heard!

2/3/23 — HB 4 is up today! If you haven’t yet, email the committee! Join the Zoom, watch the Webcast, follow along on Twitter with the hashtags #nmleg and #hb4! (ProgressNow has a tweet thread going here.)

Discussion of HB 4 will resume and be voted on in the HGEIAC on Wednesday 2/8 at 8:30am.

2/7/23 — HB 217 16- And 17-Year-Olds As Qualified Electors will be heard in the HGEAIC on Saturday 2/11 at 1pm!

2/8/23 — HB 4 is being discussed again in HGEIAC today. NM Secretary of State, Maggie Toulouse Oliver is fielding dozens of questions from committee members, mostly from one election denier. (ProgressNow is again live-tweeting! Follow along here.)

Voting bill draws mixed opinions at legislative hearing

More than 50 people offered a slew of reasons for their support or opposition to the bill at its first hearing, with each speaker given one minute to make their case.

By: Daniel J. Chacón
Feb 4, 2023

Santa Fe New Mexican

‘Streamlined’ bill to expand voter access off to a fast start

An elections bill that stirred controversy and sparked a complaint last year against a high-profile state senator from Albuquerque is off to a fast start this time around.

By: Daniel J. Chacón
Feb 8, 2023

Santa Fe New Mexican

Lawmakers make another pass at giving teens right to vote

Last year, a provision lowering the voting age, included in the New Mexico Voting Rights Act, drew some support and criticism before it died on the session’s last day.

By: Robert Nott
Feb 9, 2023

Santa Fe New Mexican

2/11/23 — HB 217 was heard in the HGEAIC. You showed up and spoke powerfully in favor of enfranchising 16- and 17-year olds! The committee had one absence and voted 4-4, so the bill will not proceed.

2/13/23 — HB 4 was continued discussion in HJC. The Secretary of State again answered all questions patiently and thoroughly.

The committee passes HB 4 – the Voting Rights Act – 7-4!
Next up: House Floor! Contact your Representative!

Voter rights bill moves past House Judiciary Committee

“For this bill, I think it’s a really solid step forward in improving access to the electoral system for as many people as possible,” House Judiciary Committee Chairwoman Christine Chandler said

By: Nicole Maxwell
Feb 14, 2023

NM Political Report

Proposal to lower NM voting age blocked by Democratic committee chair

‘We should protect our children’ by not allowing them to vote, representative says.

By: Austin Fisher
Feb 15, 2023

Source NM

2/21/23 — HB 4 is on the House Floor Schedule. It may be heard this afternoon.
~8:30pm HB 4 is being heard on the House Floor. Representative Gail Chasey is a great debater!
~11:30pm HB 4 passes the House 41-26!

NM House endorses expanding voting rights and ballot access

Democratic sponsors of the New Mexico Voting Rights Act say more people would be registered to vote and have access to the ballot were it to become law.

By: Nash Jones
Feb 22, 2023

KUNM

Debate on New Mexico voting bill moves to the Senate

SANTA FE — Legislation to expand automatic voter registration in New Mexico is headed back to the Senate, where last year it died in a session-ending filibuster.

By: Dan McKay
Feb 22, 2023

Albuquerque Journal

House Passes Historic New Mexico Voting Rights Act, Bill Now Heads To Senate

‘We should protect our children’ by not allowing them to vote, representative says.

By: Austin Fisher
Feb 15, 2023

Source NM

2/22/23 — HB 4 is introduced in the Senate and referred to the Senate Rules and Senate Judiciary committees.

2/27/23 — HB 4 passes Senate Rules 5-2 with a few clarifying amendments.

Next Up: Senate Judiciary, then Senate Floor, then House Concurrence, then Governor’s Desk!

3/7/23 — HB 4 passes Senate Judiciary 6-3 with no further amendments! Onto the Senate Floor!

3/8/23 —After almost three hours of debate and proposed amendments, HB 4 passed the Senate Floor! It now heads back to the House for concurrence with the Senate’s amendments.

New Mexico voting rights measure nears passage at the Roundhouse

SANTA FE — A year after a GOP filibuster killed the bill, New Mexico lawmakers pushed toward final passage Wednesday of legislation that would automate some voter registration and take other steps intended to make it easier to cast a ballot.

By: Dan McKay
March 8, 2023

Albuquerque Journal

Voting rights bill passes senate, nears governor’s desk

A bill that seeks to update the state’s Election Code and make it easier for New Mexicans to vote passed the Senate on a 27 to 14 party line vote after a lengthy debate.

By: Nicole Maxwell
March 9, 2023

NM Political Report

Voting rights bill in New Mexico wins Senate endorsement

SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — A Democratic-sponsored voting rights bill aimed at expanding access to the ballot in New Mexico won state Senate approval Wednesday, clearing its last major hurdle in the Legislature.

By: Morgan Lee
March 8, 2023

AP News

Secretary Toulouse Oliver Praises Passage Of New Mexico Voting Rights Act

SANTA FE — Wednesday, House Bill 4, also known as the New Mexico Voting Rights Act, passed the New Mexico Senate on a 27 to 14 vote. The bill now heads back to the New Mexico House of Representatives for concurrence on amendments before being sent to the governor.

State News
March 8, 2023

Los Alamos Daily Post

3/8/23 —The House voted 42-25 to Concur with the Senate’s amendments to HB 4! The debate was kept only to amended portions of the bill, and so debate was short!

Onto the Governor’s desk!

Voting rights expansion bill heads to governor

A bill to expand voting rights and accessibility is on its way to the governor’s desk for her signature. The House of Representatives on Monday concurred with amendments made to House Bill 4 by a vote of 42-25, split along party lines.

By: Megan Gleason
March 14, 2023

Source NM

New Mexico voting rights bill heads to governor for signature

(CNN) — A New Mexico voting rights bill that would expand voting access in the state, including restoring the rights of felons to vote upon release from incarceration, is headed to Democratic Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham to sign after final passage from the state legislature this week.

By: Shania Shelton
March 14, 2023

CNN

Intimidation, voting rights measures headed to governor’s desk in New Mexico

SANTA FE — Legislation making it a crime to intimidate election workers and expanding automatic voter registration is on its way to Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham after winning House approval Monday.

Dan McKay
March 13, 2023

Albuquerque Journal

Voting rights expansion bill heads to governor’s desk

The House of Representatives approved amendments made by the Senate  to a bill expanding the state Election Code on a 42-25 vote Monday. This is the final step for the bill before it goes to the governor’s desk.

By: Nicole Maxwell
March 13, 2023

NM Political Report

New Mexico voting bill heads to Governor’s desk

SANTA FE, N.M. (KRQE) – An election bill years in the making has received approval by the Legislature and now heads to Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham’s desk. If she signs the bill into law, New Mexico could see automatic voter registration, an easier path for convicted felons to get their voting rights restored, and the requirement for video-monitored ballot boxes in most counties.

By: Curtis Segarra
March 13, 2023

KRQE

New Mexico Voting Rights Act heads to governor’s desk

SANTA FE, N.M. — The New Mexico Voting Rights Act, House Bill 4, cleared its final legislative hurdle Monday as the House of Representatives voted 42-25 to concur with the Senate’s amendments to the bill.

By: KOB
March 13, 2023

KOB

3/30/23 — Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham signed the New Mexico Voting Rights Act into Law today!
Watch our recorded livestream video here!

New Mexico governor signs bill expanding voter access

SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — New Mexico’s governor Thursday signed a Democratic-sponsored voting rights bill aimed at expanding access to the ballot and two other related measures. New Mexico was one of several Democratic-controlled states where lawmakers advocated for sweeping voter protections this year, drawing praise from advocates concerned about court rulings potentially undermining federal voting rights.

By: AP News
March 30, 2023

Associated Press

New Mexico has a sweeping new election law. Here are 6 key provisions in the bill

SANTA FE — New Mexico will establish a permanent absentee voter list and remove barriers to voting on tribal lands under sweeping legislation signed into law Thursday by Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham.

By: Dan McKay
March 30, 2023

Albuquerque Journal

New Mexico Is Making It Easier to Vote

The state adopts a bill to restore voting rights to thousands on probation and parole. It will also strengthen ballot access for Native voters and further automate voter registration..

By: Austin Fisher, Megan Gleason, Shaun Griswold
March 13, 2023

Bolts Mag

Lujan Grisham signs voting rights bill into law

Calling it a template for other states in the nation, Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham signed a sweeping voting protections bill into law Thursday.
The legislation, known as House Bill 4, restores the voting rights of convicted felons the day they get out of prison and institutes an automatic voter registration system through the Motor Vehicle Division. It also creates a permanent absentee voter list and makes Election Day a state holiday.

By: Daniel J. Chacón
March 30, 2023

Santa Fe New Mexican

New Mexico governor signs bill expanding voter access for Native Americans

SANTA FE, N.M. — New Mexico’s governor March 30 signed a Democratic-sponsored voting rights bill aimed at expanding access to the ballot and two other related measures. It also will streamline the distribution of absentee ballots that can be returned by mail and make absentee ballot voting easier for Native Americans living in remote stretches of tribal land.

By: Jessica Gresko
April 4, 2023

Navajo-Hopi Observer

Lujan Grisham signs voting rights bill

It ended last year with a filibuster, this year the Voting Rights Protections bill is now law.
Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham on Thursday morning signed House Bill 4 into law, which she said should serve as a model for other states and the federal government.

By: Austin Fisher, Megan Gleason, Shaun Griswold
March 30, 2023

Source NM