New Mexico § 3-14-17 - Commission-manager; referendum; subjects petition; election; effect; repeal of emergency measure

§ 3-14-17. Commission-manager; referendum; subjects petition; election; effect; repeal of emergency measure

A. If within thirty days following the adoption of an ordinance or resolution, a petition,

signed by the qualified electors in a number more than twenty percent of the average

number of voters who voted at the previous four regular municipal elections or more

than twenty percent of the number of voters who voted at the previous regular municipal

election, whichever is the greater, is presented to the commission asking that the

ordinance or resolution in question be submitted to a special election for its adoption

or rejection, the ordinance or resolution shall become ineffective upon verification

of the petition and the commission shall within ten days of verification adopt a resolution

calling for the holding of a special election on the measure within ninety days of

the verification of the petition. B. The ballot shall contain the text of the ordinance or resolution in question. Below the text shall be the phrases: “For the above measure”, and “Against the above measure”, followed by spaces for marking the ballot with a cross or check or other mark necessary

for proper counting of the ballot, in order to cast a vote for the phrase desired. If a majority of the votes cast favor the measure, it shall take effect immediately. If a majority of the votes cast are against the measure, it shall not take effect. C. If an ordinance or resolution is an emergency measure, it shall go into effect

immediately, but it may be repealed by an adverse majority at a referendum election.