Polls shall be opened at 7:00 a.m. on the date required by law for the election and shall be closed at 7:00 p.m. on the same day.
History: 1953 Comp., § 3-12-1, enacted by Laws 1969, ch. 240, § 237; 1985, ch. 205, § 1; 1987, ch. 226, § 2.
Cross references. — For right of challengers and watchers to be present, see 1-2-23 and 1-2-29 NMSA 1978.
For proclaiming closing of polls, see 1-12-26 NMSA 1978.
For allowing employees time off to vote, see 1-12-42 NMSA 1978.
For provision prohibiting local or special laws regarding opening or conducting any election or designating voting place, see N.M. Const., art. IV, § 24.
Mere irregularity in manner of conducting an election, in absence of fraud or evidence of a change in result, did not necessarily destroy validity of election, nor probative force of ballots as evidence. Gallegos v. Miera, 1923-NMSC-018, 28 N.M. 565, 215 P. 968.
Effect of mere irregularities. — Elections conducted fairly and honestly will not be set aside for mere irregularity in the appointment of election officers or in conduct of the election where no fraud or illegal voting is shown. Carabajal v. Lucero, 1916-NMSC-045, 22 N.M. 30, 158 P. 1088.
No ballots received after 7:00 p.m. regardless of voter position. — From and after 7:00 p.m. no ballots shall be received by the officials, irrespective of whether voting machines or the ordinary type of balloting is employed. Thus it makes no difference that the person is in line outside the polling place and has not announced his name to the poll clerk, or that a person is inside the polling place and has not yet announced his name to the poll clerk or that he has announced his name to the poll clerk but has not yet gone into the voting machine to vote. At 7:00 p.m. the machine should be locked where voting machines are used, and where ordinary balloting is employed the officials must not allow the deposit of any ballots in the ballot boxes after this time. 1956 Op. Att'y Gen. No. 56-6532.
Am. Jur. 2d, A.L.R. and C.J.S. references. — 26 Am. Jur. 2d Elections § 103.
Violation of law as regards time for keeping polls open as affecting election results, 66 A.L.R. 1159.
Validity of public election as affected by fact that it was held at time other than fixed by law, 121 A.L.R. 987.
29 C.J.S. Elections § 198.
Structure New Mexico Statutes
Article 12 - Conduct of Elections
Section 1-12-1 - Conduct of election; opening and closing of polls.
Section 1-12-2 - Conduct of election; precinct board [election board] attendance.
Section 1-12-2.1 - Precinct board [Election board] work shift option.
Section 1-12-3 - Conduct of election; precinct board [election board] duties.
Section 1-12-4 - Conduct of election; maintenance of order.
Section 1-12-4.1 - Conduct of elections; suspension of certain voter identification requirements.
Section 1-12-5 - Conduct of election; state police; other peace officers.
Section 1-12-6 - Conduct of election; memoranda of actions or omissions.
Section 1-12-7 - Conduct of election; persons not permitted to vote.
Section 1-12-7.1 - Voter lists; signature rosters; checklist of voters; use during election.
Section 1-12-7.2 - Voter whose name is not on list or roster.
Section 1-12-7.3 - Signature rosters and checklists of voters; contents.
Section 1-12-7.4 - Signature roster; checklist of voters; voter list; number; distribution.
Section 1-12-8 - Conduct of election; provisional voting.
Section 1-12-9.1 - Recompiled.
Section 1-12-10 - Conduct of election; voter's name, address and signature.
Section 1-12-10.1 - Conduct of elections; voting information.
Section 1-12-12 - Conduct of election; eligibility for assistance.
Section 1-12-13 - Conduct of election; aid or assistance to voter in marking ballot.
Section 1-12-15 - Conduct of election; persons who may assist voter.
Section 1-12-16 - Conduct of election; type of assistance.
Section 1-12-18 - Conduct of election; disclosure of vote.
Section 1-12-19.1 - Recompiled.
Section 1-12-20 - Conduct of election; interposing challenges.
Section 1-12-21 - Conduct of election; challenges; entries.
Section 1-12-22 - Conduct of election; challenges; disposition.
Section 1-12-23 - Conduct of election; voting machines; instructions.
Section 1-12-25.1 - Procedures for voting on electronic vote tabulator systems.
Section 1-12-25.3 - Provisional paper ballots; required information.
Section 1-12-25.4 - Provisional paper ballots; disposition.
Section 1-12-26 - Conduct of election; closing polls.
Section 1-12-27 - Conduct of election; arrival of voter after closing time.
Section 1-12-28 - Conduct of election; election certificate.
Section 1-12-29 - Conduct of election; counting and tallying; who may be present.
Section 1-12-29.1 - Qualifying provisional, absentee and other paper ballots.
Section 1-12-30.1 - Voter lists; signature rosters; disposition after the polls close.
Section 1-12-31 - Conduct of election; disposition of ballot boxes and other election materials.
Section 1-12-32 - Conduct of election; return of ballot boxes and election materials.
Section 1-12-33 - Conduct of election; office of county clerk to remain open.
Section 1-12-34 - Conduct of election; copies of election return certificates.
Section 1-12-37 - Conduct of election; voting machines; verification of returns.
Section 1-12-39 - Conduct of election; voting machine; completion of locking procedures.
Section 1-12-42 - Conduct of election; employees; time to vote.
Section 1-12-43 - Emergency situations.
Section 1-12-51 - Paper ballots; unauthorized receipt or delivery of paper ballot.
Section 1-12-55 - Paper ballots; marking.
Section 1-12-57 - Paper ballots; procedure after marking.
Section 1-12-59 - Viewing marked paper ballot.
Section 1-12-61 - Removal of paper ballots from polling place.
Section 1-12-62 - Paper ballots; spoiled or defaced.
Section 1-12-63 - Election judges; unused paper ballots.
Section 1-12-65 - Emergency situations; paper ballots; counting and tallying procedures.
Section 1-12-67 - Paper ballots to be placed in ballot box.
Section 1-12-68 - Paper ballots; county canvass; when recount is required.
Section 1-12-69 - Disposition of paper ballots.
Section 1-12-70 - Reporting of vote totals by precinct; voting data maintained by precinct.