[Image courtesy of all-flags-world]

New Mexico Governor Susana Martinez has rejected a bill that would have consolidated state and local elections because of concerns it would weaken local laws requiring photo ID to vote. NMPolitics.net has more:

Gov. Susana Martinez killed on Friday legislation that would have consolidated most local elections into one beginning in 2019.

The pocket veto was a defense of local laws requiring photo identification to vote, Martinez spokesman Chris Sanchez said.

“It would have taken away voter ID in the local jurisdictions that have implemented it,” Sanchez said. “The governor is a strong supporter of voter ID.”

The fate of local ID laws was considered in the Legislature, and both sides believed they had reached a suitable compromise:

Satisfying concerns about preserving local voter ID laws in Albuquerque, Rio Rancho and elsewhere was key to winning GOP support for the bill during legislative deliberations. Cities would have been allowed to opt out of consolidated elections if the bill had become law. Supporters said those that did opt out would have been allowed to keep their own rules governing elections, including requiring a photo ID to vote.

But cities that joined consolidated elections would have been governed by the state’s election code, which does not require a photo ID to vote.

After satisfying many GOP lawmakers’ concerns that cities had an option to preserve their voter ID laws, the Legislature sent House Bill 174 to the governor with bipartisan support.

Supporters expressed disappointment in the veto but vowed to continue pushing for consolidation, which they argue will improve turnout:

Proponents said consolidating elections would increase voter turnout by making it easier for people to understand when and where they can vote and bring more attention to elections by having more candidates and issues on one ballot.

Doña Ana County Clerk Scott Krahling, who helped champion the legislation, expressed disappointment about the governor’s pocket veto.

“Low voter turnout is a real problem, especially in local elections, because the current election system is broken,” Krahling said. “Consolidating local elections is a real solution to increase voting because voters can get into the habit of voting every November. It makes sense, and it creates a solid pathway to increased voter participation…”

If the bill had become law, one November you would have voted in partisan races like county commission, state Legislature and U.S. Congress, and the next you would have voted in nonpartisan races the legislation would have consolidated.

Krahling pledged to continue fighting “until we get this done.”

It’s notable that both sides in the Legislature felt strongly enough about consolidation that they were willing to compromise on voter ID – but that agreement goes by the wayside for now with the Governor’s pocket veto. Support from county election officials, who would presumably benefit from consolidation by focusing on a less-congested election calendar, will continue to be important.  It will be interesting to see if (and how) consolidation proponents make their case going forward.

Stay tuned…

 

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