BERNALILLO COUNTY, N.M. (KRQE) — Election day is in full swing as voters across the state weigh in on local races for mayor, city council, school board, and more. Voters have been filing in steadily all day, with the line stretching out of the building in Bernalillo County.
KRQE News 13 spoke to a number of voters, who all said the issues at the top of their minds are affordable housing, homelessness, and safety. “I would say homelessness for sure. I would say lack of safety in some parts of town, and I don’t think there is a right or wrong answer to any of it,” said Presbyterian Hospital Customer Service Rep Zane Aldaz. “I just think that we need someone who cares and who’s actually doing the work.”
The Bernalillo County Clerk says voter turnout this year is expected to come in slightly lower than the last mayoral race. Officials project about 24% of eligible voters will cast a ballot — that’s a little more than 100,000 people, compared to a 30% turnout in 2021.
Clerk Michelle Kavanaugh says the county has received more absentee ballots this year, but early voting dropped by about 6,000 ballots. Clerk Kavanaugh stresses, these local elections can have a big impact on people’s day-to-day lives. “They just don’t get as much attention,” said Kavanaugh. “Which is sad because these are things that really make the most immediate difference in people’s lives… Curriculum in school and that sort of thing.”
New Mexico began consolidating local elections in 2019, a move the Secretary of State’s Office says has helped boost overall turnout. The clerk says that if you see long lines at your usual polling station, you should call their hotline at 243-VOTE and they will tell you the closest poll with shorter wait times.
If you get in line – no matter how long — by 7 p.m., you will be let in to vote.
