N.M. Admin. Code § 1.10.14.8

Current through Register Vol. 35, No. 23, December 10, 2024

Section 1.10.14.8 - FORM OF RANKED CHOICE RUNOFF BALLOT

A. The ranked choice voting ballot shall allow voters to rank all candidates in order of choice. The ranked choice voting ballot shall also contain a space on the ballot for a qualified write-in candidate to be ranked.

B. Instructions on the ballot shall conform substantially to the following specifications and appear only once on the top of the ballot: "Vote by indicating your first choice candidate and ranking additional candidates in order of choice. Rank as many candidates as you wish. Marking additional choices will not count against your first choice."

C. Sample ballots illustrating the procedures for ranked choice voting shall be posted in or near the voting booth, included in the instruction materials for mailed ballots, and posted on the secretary of state's website.

D. Upon submission of an incorrectly marked ballot, the voting machine shall provide a detailed warning message to the voter with a "cast" or "return" option and require confirmation of the voter's choice. A person who spoils or erroneously prepares the ballot may return the spoiled or erroneously prepared ballot to the election judge and receive a new ballot.

E. If any ballot is physically damaged so that it cannot properly be counted by the vote tabulation system, a true duplicate copy shall be made publicly of the damaged ballot and substituted for the damaged ballot. All duplicate ballots shall be clearly labeled "duplicate," bear a serial number which shall be recorded on the damaged or incorrectly marked ballot, and be counted in lieu of the damaged ballot. After a ballot has been duplicated, the damaged ballot shall be placed in an envelope provided for that purpose, and the duplicate ballot shall be tallied by the tabulator with the other ballots for that precinct.

F. Ranked choice voting is only applicable to elections in which the governing body has chosen to elect its officers by ranked choice. Any other candidate contest or question on a ballot will not be chosen by ranked choice voting.

N.M. Admin. Code § 1.10.14.8

Adopted by New Mexico Register, Volume XXX, Issue 17, September 10, 2019, eff. 9/10/2019