What is Referendum?
During the session we saw many bills pass the legislature that are detrimental to New Mexico. These bills, which will now become law, will create unrestricted access to abortion and transgender interventions to all people, including our minors. Parents rights have been greatly violated along with our freedom of speech. Even the integrity of our elections has been severely damaged.
But the fight isn't over...
Did you know that the New Mexico Constitution gives the people the right to say NO! According to our state constitution,
"The people reserve the power to disapprove, suspend and annul any law enacted by the legislature."
That's right! We can get these new laws put on the ballot in the next general election for ALL New Mexican's to vote on! In order to do this, we must submit a petition for referendum to the Secretary of State. Once our petition has been approved we will have 90 days from the close of the legislative session to collect roughly 200,000 signatures. If we are able to collect and submit these signatures, we will stop the laws from being enacted and they will be put on the ballot in November of 2024 for voting.
The NM constitution also allows an option in the case that we are unable to get the signatures before the 90 day deadline. In the case that we don't meet the deadline, the laws will be enacted but we will still have an opportunity to get them on the 2024 ballot. As long as we collect 100,000 signatures and submit them to the Secretary of State four months prior to the 2024 election, the laws will be placed on the ballot. If the laws are voted down by the people of New Mexico, they will be repealed.
NMFAM, along with a coalition of organizations and individuals across our state are working together in what we call the Referendum Project. We’ve collected thousands of volunteers across the state and we are continually creating opportunities for you to sign these petitions.
There are petitions for 6 bills that are currently being circulated (HB7, SB13, SB397, HB4, SB180, HB207.)
It's time to stand up and show that we disapprove of these new laws. It's time to take our state back for life, family, and religious freedom!
