NMSA 1-8-4. Secretary of state; certification of nominees; minor political party

1-8-4. Secretary of state; certification of nominees; minor political party. A. Upon receipt of certificates of nomination of any minor political party and nominating petitions, and no later than 5:00 p.m. on the first Tuesday following the filing date, the proper filing officer shall: (1) determine whether the method of nomination used by the certifying political party complies with the current rules of that party on file in the secretary of state's office; (2) determine whether the number of signatures required have been submitted and all the requirements of Sections 1-8-1 through 1-8-3 NMSA 1978 have been complied with; and (3) if such determinations are answered in the affirmative, mail notice to the certifying party and the candidate no later than 5:00 p.m. on the Tuesday following the filing date that the certificates of nomination and nominating petitions are in proper order and that the candidate, based on those documents, is qualified to have the candidate's name placed on the ballot. B. If a minor political party candidate is notified by the proper filing officer that the candidate is not qualified to have the candidate's name appear on the ballot, the candidate may challenge the decision by filing a petition with the district court within ten days of the notification. The district court shall hear and render a decision on the matter within ten days after the petition is filed. The decision of the district court may be appealed to the supreme court within five days after the decision is rendered. The supreme court shall hear and render a decision no later than sixty-three days prior to the general election. C. Any voter may file a court action challenging a minor political party candidate's nominating petitions pursuant to the provisions of Section 1-8-35 NMSA 1978. History: 1953 Comp., § 3-8-4, enacted by Laws 1969, ch. 240, § 154; 1975, ch. 255, § 102; 1981, ch. 147, § 2; 2011, ch. 137, § 50; 2014, ch. 40, § 4; 2014, ch. 81, § 4; 2017, ch. 101, § 6.