Los Alamos County Canvass Board members Monday at their meeting are, from left, James Rickman, Cameron Counters, Betty Ann Gunther, Jolyn McTeigue, and Sharon Dry. Photo by Naomi Maestas
COUNTY NEWS RELEASE
The Los Alamos County Clerk’s Office has completed the required canvass process to certify and finalize the results of the 2021 Regular Local Election, held Tuesday, Nov. 2. The Canvass Board met Monday in the LAC Municipal Building. The Board consisted of Cameron Counters, Betty Ann Gunther, Sharon Dry, James Rickman and Jolyn McTeigue. Also in attendance were County Clerk Naomi Maestas, Elections Manager Steve Fresquez, Chief Deputy Clerk Adrianna Ortiz, and Senior Deputy Clerks Victoria Martinez and Victoria Montoya. The board voted to designate Mr. Counters as Chair of the Board. Members of the Public in attendance included: Chancellor of UNM-Los Alamos Cynthia J. Rooney, Antonio Ray Jaurigue and David E. Hanson.
During the canvass process, the Board reviewed and verified the accuracy of the election results from the election day vote centers, the early voting locations, as well as absentee by mail. The canvassed results proved to be a match between the machine tapes and the results posted for election day and early voting. The absentee by mail results included 14 tallies, which were reviewed and accepted by the Board. In addition, the Board reviewed and accepted six provisional ballots, with tallies from those ballots added as a result of the Board’s review.
The Canvass Board issued a Certification of Canvass Results, which along with official election results, will be sent to the New Mexico Secretary of State (SOS) and others as required by law. This information will be made available on the County Clerk webpage: http://www.losalamosnm.us/clerk. When asked about the process Canvass Board Chair Counters stated, “This is my third election cycle as a member of the LAC Canvass Board, and I continue to be impressed with the outstanding job that the County Clerk’s Office does in managing the complex processes involved in administering an election. Also, it is a pleasure to work with other volunteers from across the political spectrum and be reminded of how we share a desire to ensure that the voting process maintains its integrity”.
The final count of ballots cast in the 2021 Regular Local Election totaled 5,051, representing a turnout of 34.24% among the 14,752 eligible Los Alamos County registered voters. Of the total 5,051 votes; 2,671 were cast during early voting; 2,092 were cast on election day; and 288 were cast by mail. Clerk Maestas stated, “Voter turnout in Los Alamos was third highest in the state, and our total voter turnout numbers surpassed those of the 2019 Regular Local Election, which totaled 4,434. Like the 2020 Elections, this election was held under unprecedented times, but the voters of Los Alamos proved that yet again, that nothing was going to get in the way of their right to vote. A huge “Thank You” to the 34.24% of voters who chose to make their voice heard in the second Regular Local Election in the history of Los Alamos/New Mexico!”
Canvass Board Member Dry said, “The canvass training was very helpful and clear. Each trainer is very knowledgeable about each section of the election process.”
Clerk Maestas would like to thank all the candidates for their dedication and commitment through this election process. A big thanks to the Los Alamos Public Schools, UNM-Los Alamos, Betty Ehart Senior Center, and the Farmer’s Market – as well as the League of Women Voters of Los Alamos, our partner in promoting voter registration and sharing key election information. Clerk Maestas would like to extend a special “Thank You” to all the Election Poll Workers, who spent many hours, from October 5th through the late hours on election day serving voters in a friendly, professional, and efficient manner, during the unprecedented nature of conducting an election during a global pandemic. “I would like to express my sincere gratitude to the election workers, who are true patriots for their bravery and dedication to the election process! Each one of them chose to work this election during a worldwide pandemic. We all are extremely fortunate for their service!” said Clerk Maestas.
Clerk Maestas would also like to extend her sincerest appreciation to the numerous County Department staff who all attributed to the achievement of the election. A special thank you to each one of the Clerk staff for their tireless efforts, which also attributed to the success of this election: Elections Manager Steve Fresquez; Chief Deputy Clerk Adrianna Ortiz; Senior Deputy Clerks Victoria Martinez and Victoria Montoya; and Deputy Clerks Anna Sanchez and Ubaldo Barela.
Clerk Maestas would also like to remind those residents who registered by mail, online, or with the Motor Vehicle Department since October 6th, that those applications will begin to be processed when registration books reopen on December 7, 2021. Those that are not registered or have moved, they can obtain a voter registration application outside the County Clerk’s Office, located at 1000 Central Avenue, 2nd Floor, Suite 240. Voter registration services and forms are also available thru the Motor Vehicle Department or online to eligible New Mexico citizens through the NM Secretary of State website: NMVote.org. Voters are also reminded if you have moved out of town to update your registration and/or submit a voter cancelation to our office.
For more info, please visit the Clerk’s website at http://www.losalamosnm.us/clerk or contact the office at 505-662-8010 or by email at clerks@lacnm.us or elections@lacnm.us. Follow the Los Alamos County Clerk’s Office on Facebook + Instagram + Twitter.