SANTA FE – New Mexico Secretary of State Maggie Toulouse Oliver today released a revised draft campaign finance rule intended to provide much needed guidance regarding New Mexico’s Campaign Reporting Act. The revised version of the draft rule reflects substantial input from the 327 official written comments the Secretary of State’s office received and the feedback provided in the three public hearings held across New Mexico.
“New Mexicans all across our state stepped up to make their voices heard about the future of our campaign finance system,” said Secretary of State Toulouse Oliver. “This revised campaign finance rule draft reflects much of what we heard from our fellow citizens in the public hearings and in their official comments. We are continuing to work towards greater transparency and disclosure in political campaigns because New Mexicans have a right to know who is paying for the TV commercials and ads that are trying to influence their vote.”
The revised draft rule provides guidance on how to more fully and accurately disclose campaign finance information in order to increase transparency to the public. The rule also defines the terms “coordinated expenditures” and “independent expenditures” and provides reporting guidance on these types of campaign expenditures.
Secretary of State Toulouse Oliver will hold one additional public hearing on the revised draft rule:
Wednesday, August 30, 2017, 9:00am-12:00pm
State Capitol Building
491 Old Santa Fe Trail, Room 321
Santa Fe, NM 87501
All New Mexicans are invited to participate in the additional public hearing and to provide official comment. The hearing is open to the media and it will be live-streamed through the Secretary of State’s website.
Click here for a copy of the revised draft rule.
Interested individuals may submit official comment on the revised campaign finance rule draft by sending them to Kari Fresquez, State Elections Director:
· By Mail – Attn: Kari Fresquez–Proposed Rule, Office of the New Mexico Secretary of State, 325 Don Gaspar, Santa Fe, NM 87501;
· By Email – Attn: Kari Fresquez–Proposed Rule,sos.rules@state.nm.us; or,
· By Fax – Attn: Kari Fresquez–Proposed Rule, (505) 827-8081.
The deadline to submit written comments by mail, email or fax is 5:00pm onTuesday, August 29, 2017. Written comments may also be submitted in person at the public hearing.
The final rule will ultimately help candidates, elected officials and political committees covered under the CRA comply with campaign finance disclosure and reporting requirements. Secretary of State Toulouse Oliver announced following the 2017 legislative session that she would utilize the rulemaking authority granted to her pursuant to New Mexico law to provide the necessary reforms before the next statewide election.
The final rule is expected to be completed this fall with an October 2017 effective date.