June 7 Primary Election In Full Swing In Los Alamos County

Los Alamos County Clerk Naomi Maestas, right, and Elections Manager Victoria Martinez are encouraging voters to come to the Municipal Building to cast their votes. Photo by Maire O’Neill/losalamosreporter.com

Linda Fox has been working Los Alamos County elections for about 15 years and is a familiar face to the community. Photo by Maire O’Neill/losalamosreporter.com

BY MAIRE O’NEILL
maire@losalamosreporter.com

As Los Alamos County stands by in “ready” mode again under the wildland fire “ready, set, go” program, not everyone may be aware that even when other County services with employees working from home, Los Alamos County Clerk Naomi Maestas and her team were actually standing by waiting for people to vote in the 2022 Primary Election slated for June 7.

During a visit to the Municipal Building Thursday morning, the Reporter observed election workers in the Council Chambers ready to assist voters as they arrived. In her office, County Clerk Maestas’s first question was, “What are your voting plans?” She said many people have already been in to vote.

Even if the townsite was to be evacuated, the Clerk’s Office will move voting to White Rock. In case the entire County is evacuated at any point before the election, Maestas has been working with the Department of Homeland Security and the Secretary of State’s Office because she would have to have a mobile voting unit. Even though there would be nobody in town, by law she is mandated to provide a voting location and that location would be based on where the safest place would be within the County’s boundary.

Maestas said the Department of Homeland Security has actually deemed elections as critical infrastructure so that service has to be provided to voters no matter where they are.

Absentee Voting By Mail
The last day to request an absentee ballot by mail is Thursday, June 2, 2022. The last day the County Clerk can mail a ballot is Friday, June 3, 2022. All absentee ballots must be physically accepted in the County Clerk’s Office no later than 7:00 p.m., Election Day, Tuesday, June 7, 2022. The Clerk’s Office is located at the Los Alamos County Municipal Building, 1000 Central Avenue, County Clerk’s Office, 2^ndfloor, Suite 240.

An Absentee Application is required to request an Absentee by Mail ballot. Applications can be obtained through the following methods: In-person at the Clerk’s Office, requested to be mailed to the voter, downloaded from the County Clerk webpage: www.losalamosnm.us/clerk or voters may apply on-line at www.nmvote.org.

Absentee In-Person/Early Voting
Absentee in person/early voting is the Los Alamos County Municipal Building, 1000 Central Avenue, Council Chambers. Tuesday, May 10, 2022 through Friday, May 20, 2022, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and Saturday, May 21, 2022 through Saturday, June 4, 2022, 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. (Closed on Sundays and Memorial Day)

Early Voting/Alternative Location
White Rock Town Hall, 139 Longview Drive, Training Rooms. Beginning Saturday, May 21, 2022 through Saturday, June 4, 2022, 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. (Closed on Sunday’s and Memorial Day)

Election Day Polling Places (Vote Centers) on Tuesday, June 7, 2022Polls are open 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. at the following voting locations also known as Vote Centers:

Los Alamos County Municipal Building, 1000 Central Avenue, Council Chambers,

Los Alamos Golf Course, 4250 Diamond Drive, Multi-Purpose Room,

White Rock Town Hall, 139 Longview Drive, Training Rooms

Betty Ehart Senior Center, 1101 Bathtub Row, Downstairs Classroom, and

University of New Mexico-Los Alamos, 4000 University Drive, Building 6, Room 631.

Voter Registration
Pursuant to NMSA 1-4-8A to participate in an election, the deadline to register to vote or update an existing voter registration is 28 days prior to that election (Tuesday, May 10, 2022). However, in addition, pursuant to NMSA 1-4-5.7B, during a statewide election, a qualified elector may register to vote or update an existing certificate of registration in-person immediately prior to voting in the election at any voting location during the regular hours and days of business beginning on the 28^th day (Tuesday, May 10, 2022) through Friday, May 20, 2022 from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and Saturday, May 21, 2022 through Saturday, June 4, 2022, from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. (Closed on Sunday’s and Memorial Day)

Pursuant to NMSA 1-4-5.7 D, during a statewide election, a qualified elector may register to vote or update an existing certificate of registration at an election day voting location; provided that the secretary of state shall establish procedures to ensure that a registration officer has an opportunity to review the information of a qualified elector who registers to vote or updates an existing certificate of registration immediately before the qualified elector votes on election day.

June 7 is fast approaching have been distracted by wildfires, end of school activities, and more. Today may be a good day to vote!

For more information, call the County Clerk’s Office, (505) 662-8010 or email elections@lacnm.us.