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Committee OKs amended ban on firearms at polling sites after walkout and debate
Summary
The Senate Rules Committee approved a substitute for SB 261 (including an amendment allowing armed law enforcement to respond when authorized), after testimony from voting-rights groups and objections from some opponents; Republicans briefly walked out and the committee recessed before the substitute received a due pass.
The Senate Rules Committee approved an amended measure to extend gun-free zones at polling locations but preserve limited, authorized law-enforcement response, advancing the substitute for Senate Bill 261.
Sponsor remarks and testimony from Common Cause New Mexico, the Center for Civic Policy and the League of Women Voters emphasized voter safety and the risk of intimidation when firearms are present at polling places. "No one needs a gun to…
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