After House Bill 4, known as the New Mexico Voting Rights Act, was passed in the New Mexico House by a 41-26 vote on Feb. 21, some residents and organizations are not happy. The bill is currently awaiting a vote in the Democratic-controlled State Senate.
“One must show an ID to purchase liquor, cannabis, cigarettes, board an airplane, check into an hotel, cash a check, and one must be 25 to rent a car," Kathy Davis, a resident of Silver City, told the New Mexico Sun. "Now tell me why these laws are so important. If you have no respect for the integrity of our vote you have no place in making laws.”
New Mexico Democrats first introduced the bill on Jan. 27, according to the Democracy Docket. A similar bill supported by Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham (D) and Secretary of State Maggie Toulouse Oliver (D) was introduced during the 2022 legislative session but failed to pass.
A Source New Mexico article reported that Toulouse Oliver believes that the current version of the bill is better than 2022's “because it has really been spearheaded and brought to life by the advocacy community.”
The New Mexico Business Coalition (NMBC), who is also opposed to the bill, published a letter arguing that House Bill 4 would endanger both voting rights and voting system integrity in ways such as mandating state agencies to automatically register voters without their consent.
"New voters would have to opt-out – after the fact," wrote NMBC President Carla Sonntag. "This is a violation of certain rights, such as religious and privacy, and is dangerous for voting system integrity."
While proof of citizenship is required to vote, the automatic registration mandate includes New Mexico residents who may not be living in the state or country legally, which opponents say increases the likelihood of non-U.S. citizens being registered to vote. Those who do not provide documentation of citizenship are still allowed to affirm it and register at the state's Motor Vehicle Division (MVD).
House Bill 4 would fully restore voting rights to – and allow for applications to restore rights for – felons prior to completion of parole and/or probation. It would also create a permanent absentee voter list, which opponents say will erode secure and verifiable absentee voting practices. Opponents say permanent absentee voter rolls will increase issues for removal.
“New Mexico has not adequately cleared its voter rolls in decades, and this will make it worse,” said Sonntag. “It will also create additional problems with ballots being delivered to an address after the person is deceased or has moved.”