N.M. Passes Campaign Contribution Limits

On April 2, Governor Bill Richardson signed a campaign contribution limits bill passed by the New Mexico legislature. Before the passage of SB 116, New Mexico was one of just six states without limits on campaign contributions. The remaining five states that place no limits on campaign contributions are Illinois, Missouri, Oregon, Utah and Virginia. 

Under the new law, which takes effect on Nov. 3, 2010, individual, corporate and union contributions to non-statewide candidates will be limited to no more than $2,300 per election (an individual may give up to the limit in both the primary and general elections), with a limit of $5,000 to statewide candidates. Committees, including both political party committees and PACs, will be permitted to give up to $5,000 to any candidate per election. New Mexico's new limits put the state very near to the national median for contribution limits, which are $4,000 for statewide candidates and $2,000 for non-statewide candidates per election.

Utah Enacts New Voter ID Law

Utah governor Jon Huntsman recently signed HB 126, which requires voters to show identification prior to voting. This brings the total number of states that require voter I.D. at the polls to 25. 

Under the new law, a voter may either present a single form of identification showing the voter's name and photograph, or  two forms of identification showing the voter's name and current address. Voters who are unable to provide suitable identification will be permitted to vote on a provisional ballot, and will be required to present valid identification at the county clerk's office within five days after the election in order to have the ballot counted.  The law also provides for the issuance of identification cards without a fee to any person whose income falls below the federal poverty guideline.

Georgia Governor Signs Citizenship Bill

Georgia Governor Sonny Perdue has signed SB 86, which will require new voters to provide proof of their United States citizenship when registering to vote beginning in 2010. Georgia is now the second state to require proof of citizenship in order to register to vote. Arizona was the first state to enact such a requirement.

Satisfactory proof of citizenship includes the following:

• A Georgia driver's license or identification card number or a photocopy of a driver's license of identification card from another state
• A birth certificate
• A U.S. passport
• Naturalization documents or alien registration number
• Other documents or methods of proof that are established pursuant to the federal Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986
• A Bureau of Indian Affairs card number, tribal treaty card number, or tribal enrollment number

Maryland Passes Early Voting

Governor Martin O'Malley has signed HB 1179, establishing an early voting program in Maryland.  It marks the end of a years-long effort to bring early voting to the state.  In 2005, the legislature passed an early voting bill and even overrode a veto by then-Governor Ehrlich, only to have early voting declared unconstitutional by the state court of appeals.

In November 2008, Maryland voters approved a measure referred to the ballot by the legislature that amended the state constitution to pave the way for early voting.

Early voting will be available beginning with the 2010 primary and general elections.  It will begin on the second Friday before the election and end on the Thursday before the election, with polling places open between 10 a.m. and 8 p.m.