A. As used in the Primary Election Law, “nominating petition” means the authorized form used for obtaining the required number of signatures of voters, which is signed on behalf of the person wishing to become a candidate for a political office in the primary election requiring a nominating petition.

B. In making a declaration of candidacy, the candidate at the same time shall file a nominating petition, which shall be on the form prescribed by law.

C. The nominating petition shall be on paper approximately eight and one-half inches wide and eleven inches long with numbered lines for signatures spaced approximately three-eighths of an inch apart and shall be in the following form:

“NOMINATING PETITION I, the undersigned, a registered voter of New Mexico, and a member of the                                party, hereby nominate                                         , who resides at                                     in the county of                                , New Mexico, for the party nomination for the office of                                                 , to be voted for at the primary election to be held on         , and I declare that I am a registered voter of the state, district, county or area to be represented by the office for which the person being nominated is a candidate. I also declare that I have not signed, and will not sign, any nominating petition for more persons than the number of candidates necessary to fill such office at the next ensuing general election.

1.                                 (usual signature) 2.                                 (usual signature) (name printed as registered) (name printed as registered) (address as registered) (address as registered) (city or zip code) (city or

zip code).”.

D. In October of odd-numbered years, the secretary of state shall post on the secretary of state’s web site and shall furnish to each county clerk a sample of a nominating petition form, a copy of which shall be made available by the county clerk upon request of any candidate.

E. When more than one sheet is required for a petition, each of the sheets shall be in the form prescribed by this section and all sheets shall be firmly secured by a staple or other suitable fastening.