BY JODY BENSON
Los Alamos
Voting in New Mexico began on May 5, Cinco de Mayo, an auspicious historical date when Mexican General Zaragoza led his outnumbered troops to win the Battle of Pueblo against the imperial army of Napolean III as he expanded France’s influence in the Americas. Against all odds, the Mexicans defeated the great European power thus proving that in a battle for your country, every single fighter, every single bullet, counts.
Voting in the Primary is like the Battle of Puebla. How could one little soldier, one little voter makes a difference? Because just as every bullet counted then, every ballot counts now. Your vote is your first responsibility as a citizen of this, our democratic nation.
Why bother, you ask? My vote doesn’t count anyway. But if your vote doesn’t count, how come so many people are trying to prevent you from voting?
In 2025, the New Mexico Legislature passed Senate Bill 16 to allow a Semi-Open Primary. For the first time ever, each New Mexico resident who is an American citizen and will be at least aged 18 by the General Election in November, can vote no matter what party you’re registered to. Yes, registered Republicans and Democrats must vote their party, but Independents, Declined to State, and minor parties can choose a party ballot at the polling place and cast that ballot. Please read the details here:
https://ladailypost.com/lwv-who-can-vote-in-the-primary-election-in-2026/
Your vote—as did each resolute warrior at Puebla—counts. And yes, France won the war, pero como dicen, but five-years later, Mexicans regained their independence to create a more democratic nation. Happily, Americans don’t need bullets. We have ballots. We already have an independent nation. In that nation, you’re the boss because your vote hires the people who govern. Make sure you hire those who share your values.
To learn who shares those values, check out the responses of both local and state candidate in the League of Women Voters Voter Guide.
https://my.lwv.org/sites/default/files/leagues/wysiwyg/%5Bcurrent-user%3Aog-user-node%3A1%3Atitle%5D/lwv_guide_2026.pdf
To watch and hear your local Council and Sheriff candidates, please watch the LWV Candidate forum.
https://my.lwv.org/new-mexico/los-alamos/article/watch-video-april-30-2026-primary-candidate-forum