REDISTRICTING TASK FORCE

SM007

SENATE MEMORIAL 7

57
th legislature
- STATE OF NEW MEXICO -
second session
, 2026

INTRODUCED BY

Natalie Figueroa

A MEMORIAL

REQUESTING THE NEW MEXICO LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TO CONVENE A
REDISTRICTING TASK FORCE TO DEVELOP CONCRETE RECOMMENDATIONS TO
IMPROVE NEW MEXICO'S REDISTRICTING PROCESS, INCLUDING PROPOSED
LEGISLATION TO IMPLEMENT THE RECOMMENDATIONS.

WHEREAS, redistricting has proven to be a contentious
process, which has often been unresolved in the legislative
process and had to be settled by the courts in 2001 and 2011;
and

WHEREAS, court cases regarding the 2001 and 2011
redistricting processes cost the state more than nine million
dollars ($9,000,000); and

WHEREAS, implementing the Redistricting Act, enacted in
2021, improved the redistricting process, especially with
regard to public engagement in the process; and

WHEREAS, the composition of the citizen redistricting
committee created by the Redistricting Act was not
representative of the demographic diversity and geographic
distribution of the population of New Mexico; and

WHEREAS, the maps created by the citizen redistricting
committee had advisory status only and were not binding on the
legislature; and

WHEREAS, the court battles over the past three
redistricting processes seriously undermined the public's
confidence in the political process; and

WHEREAS, the New Mexico supreme court has ruled that
egregious partisan gerrymandering violates the equal protection
clause of the constitution of New Mexico; and

WHEREAS, gerrymandering disenfranchises voters by
undermining the fundamental premise of one person, one vote;
and

WHEREAS, it is crucial to have meaningful public awareness
of and input into the redistricting process; and

WHEREAS, the legislative interim provides an opportunity
for the legislature to study this complex subject in detail
while including stakeholders in the process;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE STATE
OF NEW MEXICO that the New Mexico legislative council be
requested to convene a redistricting task force to develop
concrete recommendations to improve New Mexico's redistricting
process, including proposed legislation to implement the
recommendations; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the work of the redistricting
task force include: identifying potential revisions to the
Redistricting Act to address the lack of diversity in the
citizen redistricting committee's membership and the advisory
status of the committee's maps; examining other states'
successes and failures in regard to revising the redistricting
process, including the creation of independent redistricting
commissions to redistrict state offices; and considering any
other reforms to the redistricting process; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that in the redistricting task
force's work, the redistricting task force receive
presentations and information from the following: major and
minor political parties in New Mexico; representatives of
Indian nations, tribes and pueblos; representatives of the 2021
citizen redistricting committee; state and national
organizations working on voting, elections, government
transparency and democracy; experts in demography and
geolocation; and additional experts as determined by the chair
of the task force; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the redistricting task force
be requested to present its findings and recommendations to the
New Mexico legislative council and at least two additional
interim committees for discussion by December 31, 2027; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the redistricting task force
be composed of thirteen to fifteen members that reflect the
demographic and geographic distribution of the state,
including: four legislative members, one each appointed by the
president pro tempore of the senate, the speaker of the house
of representatives, the minority floor leader of the senate and
the minority floor leader of the house of representatives; the
state chairs or designees of each major political party; and
seven to nine members of the general public of New Mexico who
are appointed by the state ethics commission, at least three of
whom are not affiliated with a major political party and
including at least one member of the 2021 citizen redistricting
committee, two representatives of Indian nations, tribes or
pueblos and one member with experience in demography and
geolocation and may include representatives from state
organizations that work on voting, elections, government
transparency and democracy; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the redistricting task force
may elect a chair and such other officers as it deems necessary
to carry out the redistricting task force's duties; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the legislative council
service be requested to supply or contract for appropriate
staff for the redistricting task force. Staff may assist the
redistricting task force as directed by the chair. The
redistricting task force may request assistance from the
legislative council service to draft appropriate legislation
for consideration by the legislature; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this memorial be
transmitted to the members of the New Mexico legislative
council.

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