Lawsuit Forces New México to Rush Voter Registration for Those With Felony Convictions

Posted Oct 24, 2024

New Mexicans who’ve been released from prison after serving time for a felony conviction will be able to vote in next month’s election, after pro-voting groups lit a fire under state officials.
A law was implemented last year to restore voting rights to people previously incarcerated for felony convictions upon their release.

Blair Bowie, Restore Your Vote director at the Campaign Legal Center, said the state’s nearly 11,000 affected people faced obstacles nonetheless.

“Folks with past convictions have had a really hard time actually getting registered to vote in New México, because the officials who are responsible for implementing that law, have really dragged their feet,” Bowie asserted.

She explained slow adherence to the 2023 New México Voting Rights Act led the Center to co-file a lawsuit in state District Court late last month. An agreement has since been reached requiring New Mexico to immediately update its records. Those already denied registration will be reprocessed and should be eligible to vote on Nov. 5.

Folks with past convictions have had a really hard time actually getting registered to vote in New México.”
Blair Bowie, Campaign Legal Center

Bowie acknowledged because the rules are different in every state, many who have served time for a felony conviction believe they are permanently disenfranchised from voting. She also noted a lack of coordination between correctional officials and those who administer state elections can result in stale or faulty data.

“They’re not always very good at removing the flags that make them eligible again,” Bowie explained. “Whether that’s being released from prison, completing probation and parole or whatever – so, I would say it’s a widespread problem.”

According to the New México Secretary of State’s office, more than 730 people so far have registered to vote under the new voting provisions concerning felony convictions.

Roz Brown is a Producer with Public News Service.