COUNTY CLERK’S OFFICE NEWS
The Los Alamos County Clerk’s Office has completed the required canvass process to certify and finalize the results of the first ever Regular Local Election, which took place on Nov. 5.
Canvass Board members Cameron Counters, Danielle Gardner, David Schiferl, JoAnn Johnson and Lee Weinland met Thursday at the Municipal Building. Also in attendance were County Clerk Naomi Maestas, Elections Manager Gloria Maestas, Chief Deputy Clerk Adrianna Ortiz, Deputy Clerk Victoria Martinez. Members of the public included Dr. Kurt Steinhaus and David Hampton.
During the canvass process, the Board reviewed and verified the accuracy of the election results from the early and absentee locations, as well as the election day vote centers. The canvassed results proved to be a precise match between the machine tapes and the results posted on election day.
The canvassing of absentee results included the four ballots the absentee precinct board hand tallied on election day, along with the hand tally totals from two provisional ballots. As a result of their review, the board issued a certificate of canvass, which will be sent to the New Mexico Secretary of State and others as required by law.
The certificate of canvass and official election results will be made available on the County Clerk webpage: www.losalamosnm.us/clerk once they are accepted.
When asked about the process Board Member JoAnn Johnson said the professionalism and expertise of the County Clerk’s Office was apparent in the handling of the canvass of the election results. Board Member David Schiferl complimented the process, saying, “Naomi Maestas and her great staff had everything perfectly organized when we came in, and they made everything clear in a friendly, patient way. It’s great when an important, serious matter (election canvassing) is even fun!”
The final count of ballots cast in this first ever Regular Local Election totaled 4,434, representing a turnout of 30.5% among the 14,483 eligible Los Alamos County registered voters. Of the total 4,434 votes; 2,376 were cast during early voting; 73 were cast by mail; 1,983 were cast on election day; with an addition of two qualified provisional ballots.
“This was a fascinating election not only for our county but for the entire State of New Mexico as we made history by voting in this first-ever Regular Local Election. I am very pleased that 43 additional voters were able to make their voice heard through Same Day Voter Registration who otherwise would not have been able to due to arbitrary voter cutoff dates. Thank you to all those who chose to exercise their right to vote and make their voice heard this election cycle,” County Clerk Maestas said.
County Clerk Maestas would like to thank all the candidates for their dedication and commitment through this election process as well as the partners of the office promoting voter registration and the election itself;
- The League of Women Voters of Los Alamos
- Los Alamos High School and iVOTE Club members
- UNM-Los Alamos
- Betty Ehart Senior Center
- Sombrillo Nursing Home
- Aspen Ridge, and
- The Farmer’s Market
She would like to extend a special thank you to all the Election Poll Workers, who spent many hours, from Oct. 8 through the late hours on election day serving voters in a friendly, professional, and efficient manner. She would also like to extend her appreciation to the employees of Los Alamos County for their fervent assistance this election, along with her sincere gratitude for the hard work of her dedicated staff: Elections Manager Gloria Maestas; Chief Deputy Clerk Adrianna Ortiz; Senior Deputy Clerk Francella Montoya; Deputy Clerk Victoria Martinez; Casual Deputy Clerk Anna Sanchez; and Student Ubaldo Barela.
Clerk Maestas would also like to remind those residents who are not registered or have moved, that they can complete a voter registration form in the County Clerk’s Office at 1000 Central Avenue, 2nd Floor, Suite 240. Voter registration services and forms are also available at the Motor Vehicle Department or online to eligible New Mexico citizens through the NM Secretary of State website: NMVote.org.
For more information, please visit the Clerk’s website at www.losalamosnm.us/clerk or contact the office at (505) 662-8010 or by email at clerks@lacnm.us.