Know Your Vote – New Mexico

There are 435 members of the US House of Representatives. All seats in the House are up for re-election every two years. The number of representatives from each state is based on population. Currently, New Mexico has 3 representatives.

• Makes and passes federal laws.
• Decides amount of money that will be spent on federal programs in yearly budget.
• Determines federal tax guidelines.
• Can propose changes to the Constitution.
• Power to declare war.

Approves funding levels for federal programs, such as Head Start, Medicaid, Cash Assistance, Social Security, relief for victims of natural disasters, military spending, child care, healthcare, and domestic violence services.

Creates all federal-level policy, including laws governing immigration, healthcare, and education.

There are 100 members of the US Senate, each serving a six-year term. Each state elects 2 senators. Senate races are staggered so that only one senator in a state is up for election at a time.

• Approves the president’s appointments to important positions, including the US Supreme Court and all federal courts, and the Cabinet (the body that advises the president, consisting of top officeholders in key departments).
• Makes and passes federal laws.
• Decides amount of money that will be spent on federal programs in yearly budget.
• Determines federal tax guidelines.
• Can propose changes to the Constitution.
• Power to declare war.

Approves funding levels for federal programs, such as Head Start, Medicaid, Cash Assistance, Social Security, relief for victims of natural disasters, military spending, child care, healthcare, and domestic violence services.

Creates all federal-level policy, including laws governing immigration, healthcare, and education.

Heads the state executive branch and is elected every four years in non-presidential, midterm election years.

• Sends proposed budget to the state legislature for approval.
• Power to veto bills passed by the state legislature. Vetoes can be overridden by a two-thirds majority vote in the legislature.
• Appoints and supervises all major executive department heads, from Indian Affairs to Human Services to Public Education.
• Power to issue executive orders to enforce policies or the State Constitution without going through the state legislature.

Submits budget that determines state funding priorities, such as healthcare, education, and public safety.

Can sign into law or veto bills, including those relating to education, jobs, and healthcare.

Can call a special session of the state legislature to address issues like healthcare, public education, emergency disaster funds, and budget deficits.

Serves as New Mexico’s chief elections officer, and is elected every four years.

• Oversees the entire election process in New Mexico.
• Ensures that the state government is run ethically and in compliance with state laws.
• Regulates lobbyists, campaign financing, and political action committees across the state.

Tests and evaluates voting machines.

Informs voters where to vote, how to request an absentee ballot, and how voters with disabilities can request assistance in voting.

Heads the state’s chief legal and law enforcement office, and is elected every four years.

• Represents the state in all legal matters in court.
• Runs the Border Violence Division to address human trafficking.
• Runs the Consumer Protection Division to ensure that state laws protecting consumers are enforced.

Responsible for taking legal action against notarios or immigration consultants who are unauthorized or untrained.

Can assign special investigation teams on violent crimes, such as child abuse, homicide, and sexual assault.

Issues legal opinions on constitutional questions concerning housing, immigration, or protection from discrimination.

Serves as the state’s accountant, managing and investing state money, and is elected every four years.

• Serves as New Mexico’s banker.
• Invests the state’s short-term funds.
• Sits on boards and commissions, including the State Investment Council, which manages the Land Grant Permanent Fund.

Investment performance determines how much money is available for public projects, including building roads or school construction.

Manages all state lands and mineral rights, as well as overseeing leases and royalties on state lands, and is elected every four years.

• Responsible for revenue from state land trusts for the state’s 22 beneficiaries (including public schools and hospitals) that receive money from the Land Grant Permanent Fund.
• Approves specific projects like oil and gas development or mining operations by development companies.

Manages state permanent funds, which can be used to help finance education and other state government operations.

Makes decisions on environmental protections and public land projects that affect community access to natural resources, such as clean air, clean water, and state parks.

Regulates utilities, telecommunications, insurance, and the transportation industry. The state is divided into 5 districts. Each district elects one commissioner every four years and they are elected in staggered terms.

• Regulates natural gas, telephone, insurance, transportation, water, and sewer companies in New Mexico.
• Regulates and ensures safe transport of oil and gas through state pipelines.

Decides utility costs to consumers and profit rates for utility companies.

Funds subsidies to provide telephone and Internet access for rural communities.

Sets rates for ambulances and determines where ambulances can go.

The state is divided into 42 State Senate Districts and each district elects one senator. State Senate seats are elected during presidential election years.

• Enacts state laws in areas such as state taxes, education, child care, and conservation of natural resources.
• Shares budget-making responsibilities with the governor.
• With a three-fifths vote, can compel the governor to open a special session for state emergencies and can override a governor’s veto.

Makes decisions about state funding priorities, such as public school funding and CHIP/Children’s Medicaid funding.

Can change regulations governing healthcare clinics, including dental clinics.

Can pass laws expanding tax credits for families or healthcare access.

There are 70 State House Districts. Each district elects one representative. All State House seats are up for election every two years.

• Enacts state laws in areas such as state taxes, education, child care, and conservation of natural resources.
• Shares budget-making responsibilities with the governor.
• With a three-fifths vote, can compel the governor to open a special session for state emergencies and can override a governor’s veto.

Makes decisions about state funding priorities, such as public school funding and CHIP/Children’s Medicaid funding.

Can change regulations governing healthcare clinics, including dental clinics.

Can pass laws expanding tax credits for families or healthcare access.