N.M. Stat. § 22-18-2
Bond elections; qualification of voters; calling for bond
elections.
A. Before any general obligation bonds are issued, a local school board of a school
district shall submit to a vote of the qualified electors of the school district the question
of creating a debt by issuing the bonds, and a majority of those persons voting on the
question shall vote for issuing the general obligation bonds.
B. The election on the question of creating a debt by issuing general obligation
bonds shall be held pursuant to the provisions of the Local Election Act [Chapter 1,
Article 22 NMSA 1978]. The question shall be submitted to a vote at a district election
upon the initiative of a local school board or upon a petition being filed with a local
school board signed by qualified electors of the school district. The number of
signatures required on the petition shall be at least ten percent of the number of votes
cast for governor in the school district in the last preceding general election. For the
purpose of determining the number of votes cast for governor in the school district at the
last preceding general election, any portion of a voting division within the school district
shall be construed to be wholly within the school district. A local school board shall call
for a bond election at the next regular local or special election within ninety days
following the date a properly signed petition is filed with it; provided that the timing of the
election does not conflict with the provisions of Section 1-24-1 NMSA 1978.