![\"Susana](\"http:\/\/nmpolitics.net\/index\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/06\/Martinez-Susana-336x196.jpg\")
Heath Haussamen \/ NMPolitics.net<\/p>
Gov. Susana Martinez<\/p><\/div>\n
But with it appearing increasingly possible that the Legislature will send\u00a0House Bill 174<\/a>\u00a0to Martinez, the lobbying of the governor\u00a0has already begun. The Las Cruces City Council has taken no formal position on the legislation, but Mayor Ken Miyagishima sent Martinez a letter<\/a> on Friday expressing “serious City of Las Cruces concerns” about it.<\/p>\n Miyagishima noted the New Mexico Municipal League’s opposition to the legislation. He asserted\u00a0that forcing consolidated elections on so-called “home rule” cities would violate the New Mexico Constitution, which he wrote “expressly prohibits the Legislature from passing special laws ‘changing or amending the charter of any city, town or village.'” In other words, the city currently runs its own elections, and Miyagishima says it’s unconstitutional for the state to change that.<\/p>\n Miyagishima\u00a0also wrote in his letter to Martinez that consolidation\u00a0would result in “long and confusing ballots.”<\/p>\n “I would ask you to carefully consider vetoing this legislation if it reaches your desk,” Miyagishima wrote.<\/p>\n Members of the N.M. House of Representatives approved the legislation on a vote of 38-29 on Friday<\/a>. It\u00a0would also need Senate approval to reach Martinez’s desk.<\/p>\n The bill would\u00a0consolidate elections for cities, school districts, special hospital districts, community college districts, technical and vocational institute districts, learning center districts, arroyo flood control districts, special zoning districts, soil and water conservation districts, and water and sanitation districts beginning in 2019. In 2023 it would also add conservancy districts.<\/p>\n The bill\u00a0would not consolidate elections for mutual domestics or homeowner associations.<\/p>\n If the bill becomes\u00a0law,\u00a0one November you\u2019d vote in\u00a0races like county commission, state Legislature and U.S. Congress, and the next you\u2019d vote in races the legislation\u00a0would consolidate, including school board and city council. The intent is to increase voter turnout by making it easier for voters to understand when and where they can vote and bring more attention to elections by having more candidates and issues on one ballot.<\/p>\n Do\u00f1a Ana County Clerk Scott Krahling and the state’s other county clerks, who would take on a greater role in overseeing elections, support the legislation<\/a>, as does the\u00a0New Mexico Association of Counties.<\/p>\n