2015 New Mexico Statutes
Chapter 1 - Elections
Section 8 Nominations and Primary Elections
Section 1-8-45 Independent candidates for general or United States representative special elections; definition.

1-8-45. Independent candidates for general or United States representative special elections; definition.

A. As used in the Election Code [Chapter 1 NMSA 1978], an independent candidate means a person who:

(1) is a candidate for any state or county office to be voted on at a general election:

(a) whose certificate of voter registration shows affiliation with no qualified political party on the date of the governor's proclamation for the primary election and, if applicable, shows residence on the date of the governor's proclamation for the primary election in the district or county of the office for which the person is a candidate; and

(b) who has complied with the nomination procedures set forth in the Election Code for independent candidates;

(2) is a candidate for United States senator or United States representative:

(a) whose certificate of voter registration, if any, shows affiliation with no qualified political party on the date of the governor's proclamation for the primary election;

(b) who will be a resident of New Mexico when elected; and

(c) who has complied with the nomination procedures set forth in the Election Code for independent candidates; or

(3) is a candidate for the office of president or vice president who:

(a) has complied with the nomination procedures set forth in the Election Code for independent candidates; and

(b) was not a major party candidate for the same office on the primary election ballot.

B. No person shall become an independent candidate for any office, and the person's name shall not be printed on the general election ballot, unless the person complies with the requirements of this section.

C. Any voter may challenge the candidacy of any person seeking to become an independent candidate for any office for the reason that the person does not meet the requirements of this section or because the nominating petitions, if required, do not meet the requirements of Section 1-8-31 NMSA 1978 by filing a petition in the district court within ten days after the last day for filing a declaration of candidacy. The district court shall hear and render a decision on the matter within ten days after the filing of the petition. The decision of the district court may be appealed to the supreme court within five days after the decision is rendered. The supreme court shall hear and render a decision on the appeal forthwith.

History: 1953 Comp., 3-8-27.1, enacted by Laws 1977, ch. 322, 1; 1981, ch. 147, 6; 1993, ch. 314, 49; 1993, ch. 316, 49; 2011, ch. 137, 62.