As used in the Election Code [Chapter 1 NMSA 1978], 'shall' is mandatory and 'may' is permissive. History: 1953 Comp., § 3-1-3, enacted by Laws 1969, ch. 240, § 3. ANNOTATIONS'May' is not infrequently used interchangeably with 'must,' and, as used in former section dealing with county canvass, imported an absolute obligation. Reese v. Dempsey, 1944-NMSC-039, 48 N.M. 417, 152 P.2d 157 (decided under former law).
New Mexico Legal Code