SANTA FE — The New Mexico House of Representatives approved legislation Tuesday aimed at limiting armed federal presence at polling places and expanding penalties for election interference, while rejecting a Republican proposal to require proof of U.S. citizenship for voter registration.
Lawmakers voted 41–26 to pass Senate Bill 264 during the 2026 regular session, according to official actions posted on the New Mexico Legislature’s website. The vote came after the House tabled a Republican substitute amendment that would have replaced much of the bill with documentation requirements for voter registration.
Senate Bill 264, sponsored by Sen. Joseph Cervantes, D-Las Cruces, and Sen. Katy Duhigg, D-Albuquerque, amends the state Election Code to prohibit unauthorized federal troops at polling places and makes the ordering of such deployment a fourth-degree felony. The measure also creates penalties for individuals acting “under color of law” who attempt to alter voter qualifications or impose election rules contrary to state law. Several election-related offenses are upgraded to fourth-degree felonies, and the bill authorizes designated parties to pursue civil legal action against violators.
Supporters say the legislation reinforces New Mexico’s authority over elections amid heightened national debate about federal involvement and voter intimidation.
“New Mexico elections have been rated the best run in the country,” Duhigg said in a statement. “During this time of heightened national concern about election security and voter intimidation, it’s important to protect that institution and New Mexicans’ suffrage from interference.”
Republicans opposed the measure and instead offered a substitute amendment requiring proof of citizenship for voter registration.
In a press release following the vote, House Republicans said Democrats “once again put politics over the people of New Mexico” by advancing what they described as a bill that “restricts troops and federal agents at polling places,” while blocking a “commonsense amendment” to strengthen election security.
Rep. John Block, R-Alamogordo, who sponsored the amendment, said the proposal would have required existing documents such as driver’s licenses, passports, birth certificates or military IDs to verify citizenship and would not have created new identification systems.
“This vote tells you everything you need to know,” Block said. “House Democrats are more interested in political theater than protecting our elections.”
He added that requiring proof of citizenship would help ensure “every legal vote matters.”
Democratic lawmakers argued the substitute amendment was not germane to the bill’s purpose and would have replaced its focus on armed presence and interference with broader changes to voter registration requirements.
With House approval secured, Senate Bill 264 now heads to Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham’s desk for consideration.
