VOTE! Election information, League of Women Voters Guide, Ballot problems and measures explained
General Election Information for New Mexico:
Election Day is November 5th. Polls open 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. You can register, check on your registration, or request an absentee ballot or permanent absentee status at the Secretary of State’s election portal NMVOTE.ORG.
Early Voting begins at county Offices October 8th and closes November 2nd. In-person early voting (EV) begins in most locations on Saturday Oct 19th (some Oct.18) and are open Monday to Saturday 10 am to 7 pm.
Voter registration by mail and online closes on October 8th, but same-day voter registration is available in person at any voting location during Early Voting and on Election Day (A new 2023 NM state law allows same-day voter registration). The last day to request a mail-in (absentee) ballot is Tuesday, October 22nd, 2024. Deadline to return absentee ballot, must be received (not just postmarked) by 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 5th. You can request a mail-in ballot by visiting NMVOTE.ORG.
Need non-partisan information about the candidates and issues on your ballot?
The League of Women Voters Guide to the Election is available at LWVCNM.org. Printed guides will be available in early October at all early vote centers, senior centers, community centers, libraries, and some businesseses just before early voting opens.
Problems with and Two Ballot Measures to the Albuquerque City Charter
by Karen Wentworth, LWV of Central NM
Early voting begins Oct. 8 at the Bernalillo County Clerk’s Annex, early vote centers open Oct. 18. This year, in Bernalillo County, there are so many issues on the ballot, it will be printed in 7-point type, a size that is very difficult to read for many voters. The Bernalillo County Clerk suggests that you download a sample ballot, fill it out at home, take it to the polls with you and use it as a prompt when you get your actual ballot. The League of Women Voters Guide to the Election is available at LWVCNM.org.
There are two proposed amendments to the Albuquerque City Charter that made it through a contentious city council approval process:
1. Shall the City of Albuquerque Charter be amended to modify the procedures to appoint City administrative officers and appoint and remove the Chief of Police and Fire Chief?
The amendment gives the city council the power to terminate contracts with the police and fire chiefs at any time with notice to the mayor and police or fire chief. It would require a vote of two-thirds plus one of the council. It also limits the time an interim deputy administrative officer (any position with supervisory authority over department directors) can serve to 270 days without council approval.
Arguments for the proposed amendment:
- Might encourage greater collaboration between the mayor and the council.
- Provides greater clarity in employment conditions for the incoming police and fire chief.
- May provide more checks and balances for these positions of great importance for the entire citizenry, through their elected council representatives.
- Limits the amount of time the mayor can employ interim administrative officers without council approval.
Arguments against the proposed amendment:
- Council may terminate police or fire chief at any time without declaring a reason with a vote of 7 councilors.
- Effect of passage of the amendment would give police and fire chief uncertainty as to who to look to for leadership among a number of people who may have differing priorities.
- May be difficult to find qualified applicants to accept position with such conditions.
2. Shall the City of Albuquerque Charter be amended to modify the procedures for determination of separation of powers issues under the City Charter?
This proposed amendment clarifies how the mayor and city council may resolve disputes. Current charter languages provides for a permanent committee of three to iron out problems, one member appointed by the mayor, one by the city council and the two appointees then select a third member to be chair. But it doesn’t provide for a way out if the mayor or council doesn’t appoint a member to the committee, something that has happened in the past. This proposed amendment would require the city clerk to track appointees and notify the appointing body when the term of an appointee is about to expire. The mayor or the council then has 60 days to name a replacement. If either the mayor or the council fails to name a replacement within that time period, the other body makes the appointment.
Arguments for the proposed amendment:
- Assigns responsibility for tracking committee appointments to the city clerk.
- Should prevent a delay in filling a vacancy from impeding the work of the conference committee.
- Provides an incentive for filling committee vacancies in a timely manner.
Arguments against the proposed amendment:
- Allowing 60 days for appointments to the committee may slow down the work of the committee.
- The proposed amendment does not provide an option in the event the council is unable to agree on a replacement, other than allowing the mayor to fill two positions.
- The proposed amendment does not clarify the length of term for the committee appointments.
In person voting begins at the clerk’s annex, 1500 Lomas Blvd NW. Suite A, on Oct. 8. The clerk begins mailing absentee ballots on Oct. 8.
Expanded voting begins October 18. Find your early voting center here. Most centers are open 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Your vote counts!
Karen Wentworth, 1st Co-VP LWVCNM, is a former journalist and worked as a reporter/producer at KOAT.
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