Constitutional Amendment 2Let school elections be held with November general elections
Read the full text of the measure: Secretary of State amendments and bond questions (PDF)
In plain words
Since 1910 the state constitution has required school elections to be held apart from elections with party candidates. This amendment removes that rule. School districts could put bond questions (borrowing the district pays back with interest) and property tax questions on the November ballot, and lawmakers could later choose to hold school board races at the same time. The sponsor says school board races would stay nonpartisan. (nmlegis.gov (New Mexico Legislature) )
Before and after
| Question | Today | If it passes |
|---|---|---|
| School elections on the same ballot as party races | Not allowed | Allowed |
| School bond and tax questions | Usually in separate elections; a special all-mail election costs about $125,000 to $250,000 | Could go on the November ballot |
| School board races | Separate from party elections | Legislature could move them to the same ballot by law |
The $125,000 to $250,000 special all-mail election cost comes from the Legislative Council Service analysis (2026 Voter Guide, printed page 14, Arguments For item 1 ), with a district-size and issues qualification; it is an example of election cost, not the total net fiscal impact. Other numbers come from the official ballot title (ballot title ); also see (nmlegis.gov (New Mexico Legislature) )
Biggest change
- Deletes the constitution's requirement that school elections be held separately from partisan elections. source: nmlegis.gov (New Mexico Legislature)
Who it affects most: School districts, teachers and school staff, and voters who decide school bond and tax questions.
Cost to the state: No official cost estimate. The Legislative Council Service says special all-mail school elections cost $125,000 to $250,000 each; Source NM reports the state, not districts, would pay for school elections held with general elections.
Our plain-words summary. Every line points to its source.
What your vote means
School districts could put bond and tax questions on the November ballot.
School elections must stay separate from elections with party candidates.
Our one-line summary. New Mexico does not publish an official "what your vote means" statement; the ballot title above is the official description.
Why people want it, and why others object
Why this is on the ballot
The Legislature put this on the ballot. It changes the state constitution, so only another statewide vote can change it back. It passes with a simple majority of the votes cast on it, for all four 2026 amendments (2026 Voter Guide, General Information, printed page 5 ).
- The separate-election rule dates to the 1910 Constitutional Convention and was reaffirmed by voters in 2008. source: nmlegis.gov (New Mexico Legislature)
Why supporters want it
- Sen. Linda Trujillo (D-Santa Fe), a sponsor, says it would "streamline" the process for districts seeking bond approval, notes turnout is higher in general elections, and called the rule the "last little semblance" of limits from when women could vote only in school elections. source: newsfromthestates.com
- The Legislative Council Service lists: lower costs, higher turnout, more flexibility for districts, and less sway for organized groups that dominate low-turnout elections. source: nmlegis.gov (New Mexico Legislature)
Why opponents object
- The Legislative Council Service lists: longer ballots and voter fatigue, possible future party influence if lawmakers move school board races to partisan ballots, less voting weight for teachers and school staff, and less attention to school issues on crowded ballots. source: nmlegis.gov (New Mexico Legislature)
Who backs each side
- For: the legislators who sponsored SJR 1, including Sen. Linda Trujillo. Against: no named group found. No public record found of campaign money for either side. source: newsfromthestates.com
In each side's own words where we could find them, quoted or summarized with a link to the source. We don't endorse either side.
What you will see on your ballot
Official ballot wording, word for word (tap to open)
The official ballot title, word for word from the Secretary of State's official list of constitutional amendments and bond questions .
Proposing to amend Article 7, Section 1 of the Constitution of New Mexico to remove the requirement that school elections be separate from partisan elections.
FOR
AGAINST
Copied word for word from the Secretary of State's publication "2026 General Election: Statewide Constitutional Amendments and General Obligation Bonds" (English section), page 1. That shorter publication prints the question but not the choice words. The full 2026 Voter Guide prints FOR and AGAINST printed page 13 under the Amendment 2 title; we have not checked county ballot layouts, so confirm the words on your sample ballot.
Latest news
Recent reporting from a range of outlets, newest first. We link to it; we don't endorse it.
No articles collected yet for this measure.
Full text of the measure
Read it in the Secretary of State amendments and bond questions (PDF) .
Read more
- Secretary of State: 2026 constitutional amendments and statewide bond questions (PDF)
- Legislative Council Service: 2026 constitutional amendments (PDF)
- Source NM: Constitutional Amendments 1-3
We link to analysis from several sources; we don't endorse it.