09/18/2026
The 2026 General Election is fast approving. Early voting begins Tuesday, October 6. Here are some “know before you go” facts regarding the Constitutional Amendments on the ballot.
Amendment 1: Eliminate Pocket Vetos
Bills presented in the last 3 days of the session would become law unless the Governor Vetoes them within 20 days after adjournment: This is a pocket veto and no explanation is required, the Governor can simply choose not to sign it and the bill automatically dies.
Voting FOR the amendment would mean the "Pocket Veto" mechanism is eliminated and the Governor would have to provide a substantive explanation on any veto or partial veto within the 20 days after adjournment.
Voting AGAINST the amendment would mean the current system would remain the same including the governor's ability to let a late-session bill die without signing it or issuing a Veto explanation.
Constitutional Amendment 2:
School elections on General Election ballots.
The NM constitution currently says school elections must be separate from partisan elections. The proposed amendment removes that constitutional restriction.
Voting FOR the amendment means school districts could put matters such as bond and mill-levy questions on a regular General election ballot rather than conducting a separate election.
Voting AGAINST the amendment keeps the constitutional separation between school elections and partisan elections.
Constitutional Amendment 3:
Who gets considered for university Board of Regents.
Currently the Governor appoints regents, subject to Senate confirmation and existing constitutional qualifications. Student regents are currently selected from lists supplied through the institution's president.
Voting FOR the amendment Requires the legislature to establish a bipartisan or nonpartisan nominating committee for each of the 10 state educational institutions. The Governor would choose future nonstudent regents from the nominees supplied by those committees. Student regent candidates would instead come from the school's elected student governing body.
Voting AGAINST the amendment Keeps the existing appointment structure-the Governor retains the broader appointment authority, subject to Senate confirmation and current requirements.
Amendment 4: Paying New Mexico legislators a salary
Currently NM legislators do NOT receive a salary for serving in the Legislature. They receive per diem, mileage reimbursement and can participate in legislative retirement system.
Voting FOR the amendment allows legislators to receive annual compensation equal to NM's median household income in addition to per diem and mileage. This figure is estimated to be approximately $68,000 in 2026. The salary would rise and fall as NM median household income changes. It would begin with legislators seated in 2029.
Voting AGAINST mean legislators would continue without a salary and retain the existing compensation structure, including per diem and mileage.
