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New Mexico Statutes § 1-20-17 Obstructing the polling place

⤴ Up to Article 20: Offenses and Penalties

Statute Text

A. Obstructing the polling place consists of a person other than an authorized individual approaching nearer than fifty feet from the door through which voters may enter to vote at a polling place or a person who willfully blocks access to a monitored secured container or the entrance to a polling place so as to prevent free ingress and egress.
B. A person conducting lawful, non-election-related business nearer than fifty feet from the door through which voters may enter to vote is not guilty of obstructing a polling place, provided the person does not willfully block access to a monitored secured container or the entrance to the polling place.
C. As used in this section, "authorized individual" means an individual who is not electioneering and who is:
(1) a voter offering to vote;
(2) a member of the election board;
(3) a lawfully appointed watcher, challenger or election observer;
(4) an individual giving assistance to a specific person offering to vote;
(5) an election official or contractor having business in the polling place;
(6) an attorney representing the county or state, a political party or a candidate having business in the polling place; or
(7) a language translator where required by federal law.
D. Whoever obstructs the polling place is guilty of a petty misdemeanor.

Source

1953 Comp., § 3-20-15, enacted by Laws 1969, ch. 240, § 441; 2011 , ch. 137 , § 105 .

History

Amended by 2023 , c. 39 , s. 82 , eff. 6/13/2023 .

Amended by 2011 , c. 137 , s. 105 , eff. 7/1/2011 .

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