COUNTY CLERK’S OFFICE NEWS RELEASE
In preparation of the upcoming 2021 Regular Local Election, set to take place on Tuesday, November 2, County Clerk Naomi Maestas would like to remind citizens of some important deadlines and share some useful election related information, so everyone can “Be Election Ready.”
Citizens who are not yet registered to vote or voters who need to update their registration can do so online using the New Mexico Secretary of State’s (NM SOS) portal http://www.NMVote.org, or by mail until Tuesday, October 5. Same-Day-Voter Registration (SDVR) will be offered through the Clerk’s Office between Tuesday, October 5, and Saturday, October 30, for new voters and those needing to update their address. Voters are encouraged to use the NM SOS portal to verify their registration information, view precinct and voting district information, and download a sample ballot. Visit the County Clerk webpage (below) to view a detailed map of precincts, school districts and vote centers.
Early/Absentee In-Person voting will begin on Tuesday, October 5, in the Municipal Building, and continue Monday through Friday, 8am to 5pm.
Additional site and extended days/hours begin Saturday, October 16, and end Saturday, October 30, at the Municipal Building and the White Rock Town Hall, Monday thru Saturday, 8am to 6pm.
All Early/Absentee In-Person voting ENDS Saturday, October 30, at both locations.
For your safety and that of your neighbors, Clerk Maestas is encouraging voters to Vote-From Home. “As the COVID-19 public health crisis continues, and with the upcoming 2021 Regular Local Election occurring status quo, I strongly encourage voters to please vote from the comfort and security of your home,” advises Clerk Maestas.
New Mexico is a no excuse state related to voting absentee by mail, so those voters who would like to Vote-From-Home, can complete an absentee application, requesting a ballot be mailed to them at their current registered address, a separate mailing address or an alternate mailing address (i.e. out of town or college mailing address). Unlike the 2020 election cycle, absentee ballot applications will NOT be automatically mailed to voters, but only sent upon request.
Absentee Applications can be obtained through the following methods: applications can be mailed by request; apply on-line at http://www.NMVote.org; downloaded from the Clerk’s webpage; or picked up in-person in the Clerk’s Office. At this time, absentee applications within the United States submitted complete and verified will begin to be processed and ballots begin to be mailed on Tuesday, October 5. Please know that voting absentee by mail is secure, confidential, and all qualified absentee ballots are counted. Since Saturday, September 18, Federal/Overseas Citizen absentee applications submitted complete and verified have been processed and ballots have been mailed. These registrants can request an absentee ballot at: https://www.fvap.gov.
The last day to request an absentee ballot (Federal or Domestic-within the United States) is Thursday, October 28. ALL absentee ballots are due back physically to the County Clerk’s Office no later than 7 p.m. on Election Day.
On Election Day, Tuesday, November 2, the following Vote Center locations will be open 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.:
• LAC Municipal Bldg. – Council Chambers, 1000 Central Avenue
• White Rock Town Hall – Conference Training Rooms, 139 Longview Drive
• LAC Golf Course Community Bldg. – Multi-Purpose Room, 4244 Diamond Drive
• University of New Mexico-Los Alamos – Bldg. 6 Room 631, 4000 University Drive
• Betty Ehart Senior Center – Downstairs Classroom, 1101 Bathtub Row
Clerk Maestas adds, “During this public health emergency, I want our election workers and voters to know, my staff and I are taking every precaution possible to ensure they feel safe and welcomed at each Vote Center. While voting continues to be somewhat different this election cycle, please know we are working hard to ensure your voice is heard and the election process will continue to be completed in a safe, fair, ethical, and transparent manner.”
If you would like additional information on anything related to the 2021 Regular Local Election in Los Alamos County, please call the Clerk’s Office at (505) 662-8010 or email elections@lacnm.us. As the election season progresses, the Clerk’s Office will share updates via the web at www.losalamosnm.us/clerk and through Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
Local Elections Matter…Make Your Voice Heard, Los Alamos!