Early and absentee voting in the June 4 primary election begins Tuesday (May 7) at the Taos County Administration and Judicial Complex, 105 Albright St., referred to as the Taos County Courthouse in election materials.
Polls will be open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the courthouse through June 1, the only Saturday early voting is available there. Expanded early voting at three alternate sites in El Prado, Questa and Peñasco begins May 18, running Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. through June 1.
At Taos Pueblo, an alternate voting site will operate for tribal members only at the Taos Pueblo Community Center on Saturday, June 1 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. and on Election Day between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. An Election Day polling site for Picuris Pueblo tribal members only will operate between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. at the tribe's administration building.
For a list of polling sites, dates and times, refer to the Taos News voter's guide, which starts on Page C3 of this week's newspaper. Nineteen candidate profiles across 13 state- and county-level races in Taos County and part of Colfax County are included in the guide.
Several Democratic primary races could be nail-biters. Two Taos County commissioners, Darlene Vigil and AnJanette Brush, are up for reelection and have drawn Democratic challengers — Martin Dimas in District 3 and Nicklos Jaramillo in District 4. In Colfax County, two conservative Republican candidates will compete to represent Commission District 3, which includes Angel Fire, Eagle Nest and several other Enchanted Circle communities in the Moreno Valley.
Except for New Mexico House District 40 — where Diego Miguel Olivas, a Republican, and incumbent Democratic Rep. Joseph Sanchez are each running unopposed in their respective primaries and will face off in the Nov. 5 general election — the winners of every contest in Taos County will effectively be decided in the June 4 primary.
District 8 NM Sen. Pete Campos has a Democratic primary opponent this year who local politicos say has as good a chance of any challenger in recent memory to unseat the senior-ranking state senator. A primary win for Campos or his opponent, G. Michael Lopez, a well-known physician in Las Vegas, could be decided by votes cast by the few hundred Taos countians who live in the small portion of District 8 that abuts the edge of the Town of Taos.
Looking ahead to primary Election Day, Taos County Chief Deputy Clerk Anna Martinez noted several precinct changes that take effect this cycle. Precincts 9 and 37, for example, are no longer located at the Arroyo Hondo Community Center. Voters who typically used the community center may cast ballots at the Hondo-Seco Firehouse, 78 Hondo Seco Road.
North Los Cordovas precincts 17, 41 and 42, which used to be sited at the Los Cordovas Firehouse, have been relocated to the Llano Quemado Community Center, 6 Miranda Canyon Road in Ranchos de Taos.
It's been years since voters were tied to specific polling locations; they may now cast ballots at any polling place, regardless of where they live in the county.
For those requesting absentee ballots, Martinez said voters with internet access can most easily request a ballot through the New Mexico Secretary of State's online portal, available at NMVote.org, which also hosts a wealth of FAQ pages. Voters may also apply for and request an absentee ballot in person or via mail through the Taos County Clerk's Office, but Martinez advised it's quicker to go through the state.
"Because the time is so short — the last day is May 21 — that will cut a lot of time," she said.
Martinez also highlighted that same-day registration is available at all polling locations during early voting and on Election Day. Unaffiliated voters and those registered with a minor party can register with a major party (Libertarian, Republican or Democrat) for the purpose of voting in major party primary races, and switch back after voting if they wish.
Folks who are already registered with a major party may update their name, address or other details but cannot use same-day registration to switch parties during primary voting. Due to the state's closed primary system, voters may only cast ballots for candidates affiliated with their party.
The Taos County Clerk's Office is available to assist candidates and voters.
"They can always call the office if they have questions," Martinez, who oversees the county's Bureau of Elections said.
Contact the Taos County Clerk's Office Bureau of Elections, 105 Albright St., Suite D, at 575-737-6381.
For more on the June primary, see Pages C3-8.
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