Constitutional Amendment 2Constitutional amendment · Put on the ballot by lawmakers
Allow school elections with general elections
Explain it like I'm 5
School elections now must happen separately from partisan elections. This change would remove that rule, so school questions or races could share a general-election ballot, like doing two errands on one trip.
Yes vote
The Constitution would no longer require school elections to occur separately from partisan elections.
No vote
School elections remain constitutionally separate from partisan elections.
The question to ask yourself
Is broader participation worth putting school decisions on busier, more political ballots?
The case for
- Could bring more voters into school decisions.
- Could reduce the need for separate election administration.
- Gives districts more choice about election timing.
Backed by: New Mexico Business Coalition, Rio Grande Chapter of the Sierra Club
The case against
- School issues could be buried on crowded ballots.
- Partisan campaigns could influence nonpartisan school matters.
- Higher turnout does not guarantee better-informed voting on school questions.
Opposed by: No organized opposition found
- Money
- The cited official guide reports separate school elections can cost about $125,000 to $250,000; the statewide tax effect is not estimated.
- Don't be misled
- Removing the separation rule would not itself make school board races partisan or require districts to combine elections.