On Saturday, March 21, the New Mexico legislature adjourned for the year.  The 2015 session did not pass many election law bills.  Interesting bills that had been introduced, but which did not pass, were:

1. HB 151, to let 17-year-olds vote in a primary if the same voter would attain age 18 by the time of the general election.

2. HB 346, to move the primary for all office from June to March.

3. HB 405, to let people register to vote on election day.

4. SB 650, which would have allowed parties that qualify for a primary to invite independents into their primaries if they wish.  The US Supreme Court already ruled in 1986 that parties with their own primary already have this power, so all the bill would have done was put procedures for this in the election code.

The legislature did pass one large bill, SB 643, which moves the process along by which individuals can register to vote on-line, links New Mexico to the national data base of registered voters, helps overseas absentee voters, and made many other small technical changes.

Between 2001 and 2014, New Mexico and North Dakota were tied for having the fewest minor party and independent candidates on the ballot for federal and state office.  New Mexico ballot access for independent candidates is tied with Alabama for most severe in the nation, for statewide office.  But activists were not able to get any bills introduced in 2015 to ease the ballot access laws.  However, a challenge to the number of signatures for independent candidates is pending in U.S. District Court.