Albuquerque
Population as of the July, 2011 census update: 552,804.[4]
Albuquerque is a home rule charter city, and the power of initiative is available for both ordinances and charter amendments. For ordinances, the signature requirement is 20 percent of the votes cast in the immediately preceding mayoral election. Prior to circulation, five qualified voters file a notice of intent, including the proposed text, with the city clerk. The clerk designates the required petition form, which must include certain content requirements and required circulator disclosures found in Albuquerque Code Sec. 2-4-12. Petitions must be filed within 60 days of the notice of intent and may be submitted in stages. After certification, the council has 14 days to pass the initiative or schedule it for an election. All citizen initiatives must go on the ballot at a general or regularly scheduled municipal election.(Albuq. Charter, Art. III, Sec. 3; Albuq. Code, Sec. 2-4-10 to 2-4-15)
Restrictions: Initiative may not be used to amend or repeal, directly or indirectly, any ordinance (1) authorizing bonds or other obligations where such ordinance, bonds or other obligations appropriately have been approved at an election in the city; (2) levying or otherwise relating to special assessments; (3) imposing levies, increases or otherwise amending any excise tax pledged to any bonds or other obligations then outstanding; (4) imposing levies, increases or otherwise amending rates, tolls, fees and charges for services rendered by any municipal utility or any municipal revenue producing project if bonds or other obligations payable from the designated source are then outstanding; or (5) authorizing or otherwise relating to any city bonds or other obligations then outstanding. (Albuq. Charter, Art. III, Sec. 3)
Charter amendments are subject to the same requirements as proposed ordinances, except that after certification the city council does not have the option of enacting the initiative amendment directly. The proposed amendment must be submitted at an election.(Albuq. Charter, Art. VI; Albuq. Code, Sec. 2-4-10 to 2-4-15)
 Albuquerque Charter, Art. III and VI; Albuquerque Code, Sec. 2-4-10 to 2-4-15
Las Cruces
Population as of the July, 2011 census update: 99,665.[4]
Las Cruces is a home rule charter city and initiative is available for both ordinances and charter amendments. For ordinances, the signature requirement is 15% of the total number of ballots cast for candidates for council at the two most recent regular city elections. Any qualified registered voter of the city may commence initiative proceedings by filing with the city clerk an affidavit stating that the voter will be the petitioner, with other required content in Las Cruces Charter, Sec. 8.02. Promptly after the affidavit of the petitioner is filed, the city clerk shall issue the appropriate petition forms to the petitioner. Petition form and content requirements can be found in the Las Cruces Charter, Sec. 8.03. The city charter and code are silent as to time limits, but state law contains a default provision: "If no time period is established by law, petition signatures may not span a period of time greater than 60 days from the date of the earliest signature on the petition, and the petition shall be filed within 65 days from the date of the earliest signature on the petition" (N.M. Stat. Section 3-1-5). After certification the council has 60 days to pass or submit to regular or special election held within 60 days. (Las Cruces Charter, Art. VIII)
Charter amendments are subject to the same requirements as proposed ordinances, except the signature requirement is 20% of the total number of qualified voters who voted for candidates for council in the two most recent regular city elections and certified proposals must be submitted at an election. No proposed amendment shall address more than one subject matter. However, more than one proposed amendment may be considered at the election by the voters. (Las Cruces Charter, Sec. 10.08)
Las Cruces Charter, Art. VIII and Sec. 10.08
Rio Rancho
Population as of the July, 2011 census update: 89,320[4]
Rio Rancho is a home rule charter city and initiative is available for both ordinances and charter amendments. For ordinances, the signature requirement is 10% of the number of registered voters of the City of Rio Rancho at the regular municipal election immediately preceding the initial filing. Prior to circulation, petitions must be filed with the city clerk for pre-approval as to form, with requirements in Rio Rancho Charter, Sec. 7.02. Completed petitions must be filed within 60 days of the clerk's approval of the form. After certification, the governing body has 30 days to pass the proposed ordinance or submit at a special election, pursuant to the special election calendar and procedures of the New Mexico Municipal Election Code. (Rio Rancho Charter, Sec. 7.02)
Restrictions: Initiative shall not extend to: the budget; the capital program; any ordinance relating to appropriation of money; the levy of taxes, unless a referendum is specifically authorized by state law; salaries of City officers or employees; or ordinances authorizing bonds or other obligations where such ordinance, bonds or other obligations previously have been approved at a City election. (Rio Rancho Charter, Sec. 7.02)
For charter amendments, the signature requirement is 15% of the number of registered voters at the regular municipal election immediately preceding the filing of the Notice of Intent. Notice of intent to circulate a petition proposing any amendments to the charter must be signed by 5 qualified voters and filed with the city clerk, including the full text of the amendment. The clerk must approve the petition form. Completed petitions must be filed within 60 days of clerk approval of form. Following certification of the petition by the city clerk, the Governing Body shall adopt an election resolution. The election shall be held not later than 90 days from the date of the adopted resolution. (Rio Rancho Charter, Sec. 1.07)
Rio Rancho Charter, Sec. 1.07 and 7.02
Santa Fe
Population as of the July, 2011 census update: 68,642[4]
Santa Fe is a home rule charter city and initiative is available for ordinances and charter amendments. For ordinances, the signature requirement is 33 and 1/3% or more of the actual voters in the last mayoral election, including at least 10% of the actual voters for mayor in each council district in the last mayoral election. Prior to circulation, petitions must be filed with the city clerk for pre-approval as to form, with requirements in Santa Fe Charter, Sec. 3.02. Completed petitions must be filed within 90 days of clerk approval of form. After certification, the council has 30 days to pass or shall enact an election resolution for the purpose of submitting the initiated ordinance to a vote. To be approved at least 20% of the qualified electors of the city must cast ballots. If the measure receives a majority of the votes cast, then the ordinance is adopted. (Santa Fe Charter, Sec. 3.02)
Restrictions: Initiative shall not extend to: the budget; the capital program; any ordinance appropriating money; the levy of taxes; salaries of city officers or employees; zone map amendments; ordinances authorizing bonds or other obligations when such ordinances, bonds, or other obligations are revenue bonds or have previously been approved at a city election; or any ordinance that would violate the human and civil rights policy of this charter (Santa Fe Charter, Sec. 3.02)
Santa Fe Charter, Sec. 10.02 states "This Charter may be amended or repealed as provided by law." State statutes authorize initiative for charter amendments, setting a signature requirement of 5% of the qualified electors of the municipality (NM Stat. 3-15-16, 3-15-4). N.M. Stat. Sec. 3-1-5 governs the petition process and form requirements: Petitions must be filed with the city clerk for pre-approval as to form and petition signatures may not span a period of time greater than 60 days from date of earliest signature on the petition, and the petition shall be filed within 65 days from date of earliest signature. After certification, the amendment shall be submitted to voters at a general or special election (NM Stat. 3-15-16).
 Santa Fe Charter, Sec. 3.02 and 10.02
Roswell
Population as of the July, 2011 census update: 48,546[4]
Roswell is a general law mayor-council (with manager) city and broad initiative is not authorized. However, for limited matters a petition process is granted by state statutes.[2]
Farmington
Population as of the July, 2011 census update: 45,256[4]
Farmington is a general law mayor-council (with manager) city and broad initiative is not authorized. However, for limited matters a petition process is granted by state statutes.[2]
Clovis
Population as of the July, 2011 census update: 38,776[4]
Clovis is a home rule charter city and initiative is available for charter amendments, although the charter does not grant initiative power for ordinances. Clovis Charter, Sec. 7-1 states "This Charter may be amended or repealed in the manner provided by law." State statutes authorize initiative for charter amendments, setting a signature requirement of 5% of the qualified electors of the municipality (NM Stat. 3-15-16, 3-15-4). N.M. Stat. Sec. 3-1-5 governs the petition process and form requirements: Petitions must be filed with the city clerk for pre-approval as to form and petition signatures may not span a period of time greater than 60 days from date of earliest signature on the petition, and the petition shall be filed within 65 days from date of earliest signature. After certification, the amendment shall be submitted to voters at a general or special election (NM Stat. 3-15-16).
Clovis Charter, Sec. 7-1
Hobbs
Population as of the July, 2011 census update: 34,488[4]
Hobbs is a home rule charter city and initiative is available for charter amendments, although the charter does not grant initiative power for ordinances. Hobbs Charter, Sec. 7-1 states "This Charter may be amended or repealed in the manner provided by law." State statutes authorize initiative for charter amendments, setting a signature requirement of 5% of the qualified electors of the municipality (NM Stat. 3-15-16, 3-15-4). N.M. Stat. Sec. 3-1-5 governs the petition process and form requirements: Petitions must be filed with the city clerk for pre-approval as to form and petition signatures may not span a period of time greater than 60 days from date of earliest signature on the petition, and the petition shall be filed within 65 days from date of earliest signature. After certification, the amendment shall be submitted to voters at a general or special election (NM Stat. 3-15-16).
Hobbs Charter, Sec. 7-1
Alamogordo
Population as of the July, 2011 census update: 31,327[4]
Alamogrodo is a home rule charter city and initiative is available for ordinances and charter amendments. For ordinances, the signature requirement is 20% of the average number of voters who voted at the previous 4 regular City elections or no less than 20% of the number of voters who voted at the previous regular City election, whichever is the greater. The charter and code are silent as to petition requirements thus N.M. Stat. Sec. 3-1-5 governs the petition process and form requirements: Petitions must be filed with the city clerk for pre-approval as to form and petition signatures may not span a period of time greater than 60 days from date of earliest signature on the petition, and the petition shall be filed within 65 days from date of earliest signature. After certification, the commission has 30 days to pass or shall call a special election in not less than 30 days nor more than 60 days. (Alamogordo Charter, Art. X, Sec. 1)
Alamogordo Charter, Art. XII, Sec. 3 states "This Charter shall be amended or repealed in accordance with state law, except that any petition for charter amendment or repeal must be signed by qualified electors in a number no less than 20% of the average number of voters who voted at the previous 4 regular City elections or no less than 20% of the number of voters who voted at the previous regular City election, or by 5% of the qualified electors of the municipality, whichever is greater. State statutes authorize initiative for amendments (NM Stat. 3-15-16, 3-15-4). N.M. Stat. Sec. 3-1-5 governs the petition process and form requirements: Petitions must be filed with the city clerk for pre-approval as to form and petition signatures may not span a period of time greater than 60 days from date of earliest signature on the petition, and the petition shall be filed within 65 days from date of earliest signature. After certification, the amendment shall be submitted to voters at a general or special election (NM Stat. 3-15-16).
Alamogordo Charter, Art. X, Sec. 1; Art. XII, Sec. 3
Carlsbad
Population as of the July, 2011 census update: 26,296[4]
Carlsbad is a general law mayor-council city and broad initiative is not authorized. However, for limited matters a petition process is granted by state statutes.[2]
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