A. As used in Sections 1-8-2 through 1-8-4 N.M. Stat. Ann., “nominating petition” means the authorized form used for obtaining the required number of signatures of voters that is signed on behalf of the person wishing to become a minor political party candidate for a political office in a general or United States representative special election requiring a nominating petition.

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

C. The nominating petition for a minor political party candidate for any office requiring a nominating petition shall be on paper approximately eight and one-half inches wide and eleven inches long with numbered lines for signatures approximately three-eighths inch apart and shall be in the following form:

“NOMINATING PETITION FOR MINOR POLITICAL PARTY CANDIDACY (GENERAL ELECTION) I, the undersigned, a registered voter of New Mexico, 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 general election or United States representative special election to be held on                    , and I declare that I am a registered voter of the 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 or at a United States representative special election. I understand that if the candidate’s political party does not qualify as a minor political party, the candidate may run as an unaffiliated independent candidate.

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

D. In March of even-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.