A. As used in the Election Code, "consolidated precinct" means a single precinct or the combination of two or more precincts into one polling place for the purpose of establishing a voter convenience center pursuant to the provisions of Section 1-3-4 NMSA 1978.
B. When consolidated precincts are used to establish a voter convenience center in a statewide election, references to "precincts" in the voting process shall be applicable to consolidated precincts.
History: 1953 Comp., § 3-1-11, enacted by Laws 1969, ch. 240, § 11; 1975, ch. 255, § 4; 2011, ch. 131, § 1; 2011, ch. 137, § 7; 2019, ch. 212, § 6.
ANNOTATIONSCross references. — For consolidation of precincts, see 1-3-4 and 1-3-5 NMSA 1978.
The 2019 amendment, effective April 3, 2019, revised the definition of "consolidated precinct" as used in the Election Code; in Subsection A, after "means", added "a single precinct or", and after "polling place", added "for the purpose of establishing a voter convenience center"; and in Subsection B, after "are used", added "to establish a voter convenience center", and after the next occurrence of "in", deleted "an" and added "a statewide".
The 2011 amendment, effective July 1, 2011, corrected the statutory reference to the method of consolidating precincts and clarifies the meaning of "precincts".
Laws 2011, ch. 131, § 1 and Laws 2011, ch. 137, § 7 enacted identical amendments to this section. The section was set out as amended by Laws 2011, ch. 137, § 7. See 12-1-8 NMSA 1978.
Constitutional requisite for consolidation. — Any statute providing for consolidation of precincts in any given election is void and unconstitutional unless the old precincts are abolished and a new precinct, including the area desired to be consolidated, is legally created. 1954 Op. Att'y Gen. No. 54-6067 (opinion rendered under former law).