Section 1-2-17 - Precinct board; schools of instruction.

1-2-17. Precinct board; schools of instruction.

A.     The secretary of state may supervise and the county clerk shall cause to be held a public school of instruction for all presiding judges, precinct boards and others who will be officially concerned with the conduct of elections.

B.     The schools for instruction provided for in this section shall be as follows:

(1)     one school not less than seven days before the primary election;

(2)     one school not less than seven days before the general election; and

(3)     one school not less than seven days before any other statewide election.

C.     All major details of the conduct of elections shall be covered by the secretary of state or the secretary's authorized representative or the county clerk or the clerk's authorized representative at such school, with special emphasis being given to recent changes in the Election Code [Chapter 1 NMSA 1978].

D.     The school of instruction shall be open to any interested person, and notice of the school shall be given to the public press at least four days before the school is to be held.  Each member of the precinct board shall be notified by mail at least seven days prior to commencement of the school.

E.     A person shall not serve as a judge or member of a precinct board in any election unless that person has attended at least one such school of instruction in the calendar year of the election at which the person is appointed to serve or has been certified by the county clerk with respect to the person's completion of the school of instruction.  This subsection shall not apply to filling of vacancies on election day as provided in Subsection B of Section 1-2-15 NMSA 1978.