1. A. Coercion of voters consists of, under color of law or otherwise, compelling any voter at any election to vote for or to refrain from voting for any candidate, party, proposition, question or constitutional amendment either against the voter's will or in the absence of the voter's ability to understand the purpose and effect of the voter's vote.
2. B. Whoever commits coercion of voters is guilty of a fourth degree felony, in addition to any other offense provided by law, and shall be sentenced pursuant to the provisions of Section 31-18-15 NMSA 1978.

History: Laws 1995, ch. 198, § 15; 1978 Comp., § 1-12-9.1 recompiled as § 1-20-13.1 by Laws 2011, ch. 137, § 109; 2026, ch. 58, § 12.

ANNOTATIONS

Recompilations. — Laws 2011, ch. 137, § 109 recompiled former 1-12-9.1 NMSA 1978 as 1-20-13.1 NMSA 1978 effective July 1, 2011.

The 2026 amendment, effective May 20, 2026, prohibited persons acting under color of law or otherwise from coercing voters; added new subsection designations "A" and "B"; in Subsection A, after "consists of" added "under color of law or otherwise"; and in Subsection B, after "fourth degree felony" added "in addition to any other offense provided by law".