N.M. Stat. § 1-19A-3
Terms of participation; declaration of intent.
A. A person choosing to obtain financing pursuant to the Voter Action Act shall first file with
the secretary a declaration of intent to participate in that act as an applicant candidate for a
stated covered office. The declaration of intent shall be filed with the secretary prior to or during
the qualifying period according to forms and procedures developed by the secretary.
B. To become an applicant candidate and participate in the Voter Action Act, a person shall
submit a declaration of intent prior to collecting any qualifying contributions or other
contributions and make explicit in the declaration that the candidate has complied with and will
continue to comply with that act's contribution and expenditure limits and all other requirements
set forth in that act and rules issued by the secretary.
C. Except as provided in Subsection D of this section, a person shall not be eligible to
become an applicant candidate if the person has accepted contributions totaling more than one
hundred dollars ($100) from any one contributor during the election cycle in which the person is
running for office.
D. A person who has accepted contributions of more than one hundred dollars ($100) from
any one contributor during the election cycle in which the person decides to run for a covered
office is still eligible to become an applicant candidate if:
(1)
the contributions were for a candidacy for an office other than a covered office and
no money was raised for or expended on any campaign-related activity for a covered office
during the time those contributions were made;
(2)
the person does not solicit or accept contributions for a candidacy for an office
other than a covered office or for the purpose of supporting or opposing a ballot measure or
another candidate after the person declares candidacy for a covered office or becomes an
applicant candidate;
(3)
the person places all campaign account money that was collected before the
person became an applicant candidate in a segregated bank account and does not transfer any
money into or out of that account for the duration of the person's campaign for a covered office;
and
(4)
the person agrees that, if elected to the covered office, the person will transfer all
money in the campaign account to the fund.