ELECTION DAY AS HOLIDAY

SB 483 proposes to establish the first Tuesday in November as "Election Day" in New Mexico, making it a paid holiday for state and public employees. The bill amends existing law to require employers to provide a full day's pay for voting on Election Day, with exemptions for employees whose schedules conflict with voting hours or who work directly on election administration (like election officials or tribal staff). It also adds "Election Day" to the list of designated legal holidays under state law. Employers who deny voting time would face misdemeanor penalties, including fines of $50-$100. The bill was introduced in 2025 but was postponed indefinitely in June 2025.