2017 New Mexico Statutes
Chapter 1 - Elections
Article 2 - Election Officers and Boards
Section 1-2-31 - County canvass observers.

1-2-31. County canvass observers.

A. The county chair of each political party represented on the ballot may appoint in writing county canvass observers. A candidate for elected office and an election-related organization may each appoint county canvass observers in a county if the candidate or organization makes a written request to the secretary of state at least ten days prior to the election date and specifies the names of the qualified appointees. The secretary of state shall notify the county clerk of the qualified appointees at least five days before the election.

B. County canvass observers shall be voters of a precinct located in that county to which they are appointed. No person shall be qualified for appointment or service as a county canvass observer who is a sheriff, deputy sheriff, marshal, deputy marshal or state or municipal police officer.

C. A county canvass observer or an election observer, upon presentation of the observer's written appointment, shall be permitted to be present at any time from the time the county canvassing begins until the completion of the canvass.

D. A county canvass observer or election observer is strictly limited to observing and documenting the canvassing process and shall not interrupt the canvassing process.

E. County canvass observers and election observers shall not interfere with the orderly conduct of the canvass and may be removed by the county clerk if the observer does not comply with the law.

F. As used in this section, "county canvass" means the process of qualifying and verifying paper ballots and counting and tallying votes for each precinct beginning upon the closing of the polls and ending with the certification and announcement of the results by the county canvassing board.

History: Laws 2005, ch. 270, 15; 2011, ch. 137, 28.