New Mexico Legislature Introduces Landmark Voting Rights Bill
New legislation aims to expand voting access for justice-impacted communities.
Related to: Voting Rights
[Santa Fe, NM] – In a significant move to bolster democracy in New Mexico, legislators have introduced a pivotal measure: House Joint Resolution 10 (HJR 10). This initiative seeks to expand voting rights to people with felony convictions, another step to ensuring ballot access for all New Mexicans.
Under current law, individuals with felony convictions are barred while completing their prison sentence. HJR 10 removes this restriction, ensuring that all residents otherwise qualified to vote can participate in elections, regardless of their involvement with the criminal legal system.
Advocacy groups have lauded these measures as significant steps toward a more equitable and robust democratic process in New Mexico. The measure will be deliberated in the upcoming legislative session, with the potential to position New Mexico as a leader in voting rights and election security.
“New Mexico legislators have an opportunity to lead the nation in progressive reform,” said Selinda Guerrero, [community organizer with] Millions for Prisoners New Mexico. “To fail in passing these protections would be to uphold the very injustices that our state legislators claim to fight against. If we truly believe in a just, inclusive, and democratic New Mexico , then these reforms are not optional, they are necessary! It is time for the legislative leadership of New Mexico to turn words into action, the people of NM are watching.”
Recent research from The Sentencing Project found that over 4 million Americans are denied their vote due to felony disenfranchisement. In 2023, Governor Grisham signed legislation restoring voting rights to over 11,000 New Mexicans automatically upon release from prison.
The Sentencing Project and Millions for Prisoners urges lawmakers to pass HJR 10 to ensure that all New Mexicans, regardless of their involvement in the criminal-legal system, have the opportunity to make their voices heard at the ballot box.
About Millions for Prisoners New Mexico
Founded in 2017, Millions for Prisoners New Mexico works to advance the rights and wellbeing of people affected by the criminal legal system. Millions for Prisoners focuses its efforts on supporting all individuals affected by the criminal legal system, including formerly incarcerated, directly impacted individuals and their families.
About The Sentencing Project
The Sentencing Project is a nonprofit organization dedicated to reducing incarceration and addressing racial disparities in the criminal legal system. For over 35 years, the organization has advocated for effective policies and practices that promote a more equitable and humane justice system. www.sentencingproject.org
