New Mexico early voting locations expand on Saturday

Early voting locations for the Nov. 3 general election will significantly expand across New Mexico starting Saturday.

This year’s general election marks the first time New Mexicans will elect a new governor in eight years. The ballot will also feature contested races for the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives, as well as several races for the state Legislature, along with constitutional amendments and ballot initiatives.

Early voting began on Oct. 6 at county clerks’ offices across the state, and will expand to additional early voting locations on Saturday that will remain operational through Oct. 31. The New Mexico Secretary of State’s Office’s website offers a comprehensive list of early voting locations, as well as sample ballots customizable to each user’s address.

As of Friday morning, just more than 63,000 registered voters across the state had cast either absentee or early ballots — about 4.3% of all registered voters in New Mexico.

Of those, nearly 37,000 were Democrats, about 17,000 were Republicans and nearly 9,000 registered as independent or “decline to state” voters, according to data from the Secretary of State.

Across the U.S. and New Mexico, a series of non-partisan No Kings rallies will also focus on early voting efforts. While past No Kings events have typically been protests, organizers say Saturday’s events are instead meant to educate attendees about registering and voting early.

The new focus comes amid ongoing concerns by states about federal interference during the midterm elections. On Tuesday, New Mexico Secretary of State Maggie Toulouse Oliver and Attorney General Raúl Torrez issued a joint advisory to reinforce voter rights.

The next act for the No Kings movement: Early voting in the midterms

On Saturday, No Kings events are scheduled for more than two dozen New Mexico communities, including Albuquerque, Santa Fe and Las Cruces.

Rayellen Smith, the president of the progressive group Indivisible Albuquerque, told Source NM that from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, volunteers will set up outside Bernalillo County’s busiest early voting locations waving large red arrows with messages such as, “vote early this way.”

A No Kings rally at Montgomery Park, off of San Mateo and Montgomery boulevards in Albuquerque, will also feature a giveaway. Smith said hundreds of attendees will receive a tote bag full of flyers, buttons and door hangers with early voting information. It’s designed to send people back into their communities, where they can educate their families, friends and neighbors about early voting resources.

“It is so critically important to get out there and get our votes counted,” Smith said, adding that national organizers hope Saturday’s effort will go down as the largest get-out-the-vote initiative in U.S. history.

On Oct. 30, 31 and Nov. 3 — the final two days of early voting in New Mexico and Election Day — Smith said residents can call 1-888-858-3421 to request a ride to the polls, as well.