Editor,
Have you voted yet?
If not, you still can. Absentee/early voting for the 2002 New Mexico Primary Election began on April 25 and runs until the Primary Election Day on June 4. Now is the time to exercise your right to vote as an American citizen and make an impact on who the next governor of New Mexico will be. The governor appoints the Board of Regents, which governs the University.
Now is the time to vote early, if you are registered to vote in Albuquerque, and you are planning to: go back to your hometown for the summer, be out in the field doing research, be on sabbatical, on vacation, or studying abroad on June 4. Some offices only have candidates from a single party, so the winner of the party primary will hold the elected office.
Under state law, only members of a major political party (Democrats and Republicans) can vote in a party primary election; Greens and Independents cannot. All voters may cast ballots in the November 5 general election.
Additionally, voting early can be more convenient since it is now possible to vote early on Saturdays, or by mail. And starting this year, new, touch-screen voting machines are being used in the early voting process. I have tried one of the new Edge machines, and it's easy; it's like using an ATM. The new machines will speed up the early vote counting process (formerly on paper ballots). No dimpled chads here in Bernalillo County.
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You can vote early in person at the County Clerk's office at the City/County building between now and June 1. Five new satellite locations across the county (with lots of free parking) will be open May 15 to June 1. Please visit www.bernco.gov/clerk for a list of locations and times (including evenings and Saturdays).
You also can vote by mail, using an absentee ballot. Call 768-3100 to request an application for a ballot. Once you sign and return the application, the clerk will send you a ballot, which you fill out and mail back to the county clerk. Ballots must be at the county clerk's office by 7 p.m., June 4, to be counted.
And if you have not registered to vote yet, there are just a few days left to do so. Voter registration forms can be picked up anytime at the UNM Registrar's office, Room 261, Student Services Center. To be eligible to vote in the June 4 primary election, registration forms must be at the county clerk's office (6th floor, City/County building, 1 Civic Plaza NW) by Tuesday, May 7, at 5 p.m.
If you have questions, the County Clerk Bureau of Elections can be reached at reached at 768-3100 or clerk@bernco.gov or see www.bernco.gov/clerk. Citizens registered to vote outside of Bernalillo County should contact their local county clerk for more information. Please see http://www.sos.state.nm.us/ELECTNET.HTM for a list.
Brian Eagan
UNM student
