Voting 101
YOUR VOICE, YOUR VOTE
In a democratic society, we have the privilege of voting to choose the representatives who will work on the problems important to us. Here is some information to help you navigate the world of voting in New Mexico.
ELECT YOUR REPRESENTATIVES
To help you decide who to vote for, the League of Women Voters produces nonpartisan Voter Guides with information about candidates and issues. See www.lwvsfc.org and local newspapers for information on Voter Guides and Candidate Forums.
You'll find out where the candidates stand on issues that are important to you and hear about their experience and qualifications. You'll also learn about the issues and ballot questions.
VOTE ON ISSUES
Sometimes elections are held for the purpose of voting on taxes and amendments (changes) to the state constitution.
COMMON VOTING TERMS
USED DURING OR FOR PRIMARY & GENERAL ELECTIONS
Absentee Ballot - A way to vote by mail instead of going to a polling place. In New Mexico, you do not need to supply a reason for obtaining an absentee ballot.
Ballot - The physical document on which the voter’s choices are recorded.
Bond Elections - Taxes on property to pay for services. Local units of government, including school districts and public colleges, may hold bond or mill levy elections.
Constitutional Amendment - An addition or change to the state constitution, which requires a vote of the people.
Early Voting- Starts the third Saturday before an election. Voters can go to Early Voting Locations.
General Elections -Every two years (in even-numbered years), there are federal (national), state, and county elections. In New Mexico, primary elections are held to determine the finalists for federal, state, county, and district offices. These elections are held the Tuesday after the first Monday in June. General elections are held the Tuesday after the first Monday in November.
Home Rule Charters- Some cities and towns (known as municipalities) have charters that describe how their government operates. Charters may be amended at an election.
Initiative - In New Mexico, municipalities some have home rule charters that allow them to put an initiative (an issue) on a ballot for voters to consider.
Mill Levy- A tax on property (land and buildings that people own). Local units of government, including school districts, may hold mill levy elections.
Political Party - An organization which nominates candidates for public office. It is the responsibility of each political party that seeks to attain power within a government to define its priorities. Democrats and Republicans are the only political parties recognized in New Mexico.
Polls - The places where votes are cast or recorded. A voter who goes to the wrong polling place can vote by provisional ballot at that other polling place.
Precinct - An administrative division representing a geographic area in which voters cast ballots at the same polling place. Your precinct is determined by your address. Candidates who run for offices to represent you must live in your district. For 28 days before Election Day, citizens can vote in any Early Voting Locations in their county. On Election Day, they must vote at the polling place for their assigned precinct or at a Vote Center.
Primaries -A primary is an election where members of a party select their nominees for offices from among all of their party's candidates who are running. In New Mexico, the state primary is held the first Tuesday after a Monday in June in even-numbered years. After winning a primary, the nominees of each party run against each other, with the winners elected to office. The general election that follows the primary is held the Tuesday after the first Monday in November. Before Election Day, eligible New Mexican voters can vote at Early Voting Centers.
Referendum - A vote by citizens that repeals or rejects a state law that was enacted by the legislature.
Registration - The process of getting on the list of those eligible to vote. In New Mexico, you must register 28 days before an election. If you change parties or change your address, you should re-register to vote.
Vote Centers - Voters do not have to vote at their polling place on Election Day if they vote at a Vote Center, which may be more convenient.
ELECTIONS AT ALL LEVELS
FEDERAL (NATIONAL) ELECTIONS
Officials we elect at the federal level:
President and Vice President
United States Senators
United States Representatives
STATE ELECTIONS
Officials we elect at the state level:
Governor
Lieutenant Governor
Secretary of State
State Attorney General, Auditor, Treasurer, Commissioner of Public Lands
Supreme Court and Court of Appeals Judges
DISTRICT ELECTIONS
Officials we elect we elect at the district level:
County officials: Commissioners, Clerk, Treasurer, Assessor, and Sheriff
City officials in Municipal Elections: Mayor, City Councilors, and Municipal Judge
State Representatives and Senators
Public Regulation Commissioners
Public Education Commissioners
District Judges
District Attorneys
Board Members for Public Colleges and School Districts (These elections can be combined.)
LOCAL ELECTIONS
Officials we elect at the city and county district level:
County officials: Commissioners, Clerk, Treasurer, Assessor, and Sheriff
City officials in Municipal Elections: Mayor, City Councilors, and Municipal Judge
REGISTERING TO VOTE
In order to vote, you must be a U.S. citizen, 18 years old by election day and a resident of the state where you vote. Individuals who have been convicted of felony offenses lose their right to vote until after they have completed the terms and conditions imposed by the court. In New Mexico, registration is open up until 28 days before an election.
You can register to vote by going to your County Clerk's office or other voter registration sites, or you can download the National Voter Registration Application through the NM Secretary of State's website. To find your County Clerk and other information, go to http://www.sos.state.nm.us/sos-VoterReg.html. To confirm your registration, find your precinct, district, and other voting information, visit https://voterview.state.nm.us/.
ABSENTEE BALLOTS
An absentee ballot is a way to vote if you are unable to get to your polling place on Election Day. You mustrequest and file an absentee ballot application from your County Clerk or City Clerk (if Municipal Election) by 5 p.m. on the Friday prior to the election.
Some of the reasons why a citizen may want to request an absentee ballot:
· *Elderly or disabled and unable to make the trip to a Voting Center or polling place
· *Will be out of town during election
· *Unable to go to polls due to religion, work, or other reason
· *Plan to work as a poll worker in another precinct rather than in home precinct
For more information about voting and to download a voter registration form or absentee ballot application,
visit http://www.sos.state.nm.us/sos-VoterReg.html.
UNLEASH YOUR POWER: VOTE!!!
The League of Women Voters of New Mexico is an inclusive, independent, and nonpartisan organization for men and women who are committed to civic improvement.
The League helps safeguard democracy by advocating for good government, ethics, accountability, transparency, and public involvement. The League educates voters about key issues, including voting rights, human rights, health care, quality education, social services, environmental protection, and fair tax policy.
Local Leagues provide voter registration services, Voter Guides, and Candidate Forums.
League of Women Voters of Central New Mexico www.lwvcnm.org 505-884-8441
League of Women Voters of Greater Las Cruces www.lwvlc.org 575-524-8683
League of Women Voters of Los Alamos www.lwvlosalamos.org use email link, please
League of Women Voters of Santa Fe County www.lwvsfc.org 505 982-9766
If you live elsewhere, contact theLeague of Women Voters of New Mexico, which has members all around the state who do not live in the areas where there are local Leagues. www.lwvnm.org or 505-884-8441.
LWVSFC Voting 101 1-10-12
In a democratic society, we have the privilege of voting to choose the representatives who will work on the problems important to us. Here is some information to help you navigate the world of voting in New Mexico.
ELECT YOUR REPRESENTATIVES
To help you decide who to vote for, the League of Women Voters produces nonpartisan Voter Guides with information about candidates and issues. See www.lwvsfc.org and local newspapers for information on Voter Guides and Candidate Forums.
You'll find out where the candidates stand on issues that are important to you and hear about their experience and qualifications. You'll also learn about the issues and ballot questions.
VOTE ON ISSUES
Sometimes elections are held for the purpose of voting on taxes and amendments (changes) to the state constitution.
COMMON VOTING TERMS
USED DURING OR FOR PRIMARY & GENERAL ELECTIONS
Absentee Ballot - A way to vote by mail instead of going to a polling place. In New Mexico, you do not need to supply a reason for obtaining an absentee ballot.
Ballot - The physical document on which the voter’s choices are recorded.
Bond Elections - Taxes on property to pay for services. Local units of government, including school districts and public colleges, may hold bond or mill levy elections.
Constitutional Amendment - An addition or change to the state constitution, which requires a vote of the people.
Early Voting- Starts the third Saturday before an election. Voters can go to Early Voting Locations.
General Elections -Every two years (in even-numbered years), there are federal (national), state, and county elections. In New Mexico, primary elections are held to determine the finalists for federal, state, county, and district offices. These elections are held the Tuesday after the first Monday in June. General elections are held the Tuesday after the first Monday in November.
Home Rule Charters- Some cities and towns (known as municipalities) have charters that describe how their government operates. Charters may be amended at an election.
Initiative - In New Mexico, municipalities some have home rule charters that allow them to put an initiative (an issue) on a ballot for voters to consider.
Mill Levy- A tax on property (land and buildings that people own). Local units of government, including school districts, may hold mill levy elections.
Political Party - An organization which nominates candidates for public office. It is the responsibility of each political party that seeks to attain power within a government to define its priorities. Democrats and Republicans are the only political parties recognized in New Mexico.
Polls - The places where votes are cast or recorded. A voter who goes to the wrong polling place can vote by provisional ballot at that other polling place.
Precinct - An administrative division representing a geographic area in which voters cast ballots at the same polling place. Your precinct is determined by your address. Candidates who run for offices to represent you must live in your district. For 28 days before Election Day, citizens can vote in any Early Voting Locations in their county. On Election Day, they must vote at the polling place for their assigned precinct or at a Vote Center.
Primaries -A primary is an election where members of a party select their nominees for offices from among all of their party's candidates who are running. In New Mexico, the state primary is held the first Tuesday after a Monday in June in even-numbered years. After winning a primary, the nominees of each party run against each other, with the winners elected to office. The general election that follows the primary is held the Tuesday after the first Monday in November. Before Election Day, eligible New Mexican voters can vote at Early Voting Centers.
Referendum - A vote by citizens that repeals or rejects a state law that was enacted by the legislature.
Registration - The process of getting on the list of those eligible to vote. In New Mexico, you must register 28 days before an election. If you change parties or change your address, you should re-register to vote.
Vote Centers - Voters do not have to vote at their polling place on Election Day if they vote at a Vote Center, which may be more convenient.
ELECTIONS AT ALL LEVELS
FEDERAL (NATIONAL) ELECTIONS
Officials we elect at the federal level:
President and Vice President
United States Senators
United States Representatives
STATE ELECTIONS
Officials we elect at the state level:
Governor
Lieutenant Governor
Secretary of State
State Attorney General, Auditor, Treasurer, Commissioner of Public Lands
Supreme Court and Court of Appeals Judges
DISTRICT ELECTIONS
Officials we elect we elect at the district level:
County officials: Commissioners, Clerk, Treasurer, Assessor, and Sheriff
City officials in Municipal Elections: Mayor, City Councilors, and Municipal Judge
State Representatives and Senators
Public Regulation Commissioners
Public Education Commissioners
District Judges
District Attorneys
Board Members for Public Colleges and School Districts (These elections can be combined.)
LOCAL ELECTIONS
Officials we elect at the city and county district level:
County officials: Commissioners, Clerk, Treasurer, Assessor, and Sheriff
City officials in Municipal Elections: Mayor, City Councilors, and Municipal Judge
REGISTERING TO VOTE
In order to vote, you must be a U.S. citizen, 18 years old by election day and a resident of the state where you vote. Individuals who have been convicted of felony offenses lose their right to vote until after they have completed the terms and conditions imposed by the court. In New Mexico, registration is open up until 28 days before an election.
You can register to vote by going to your County Clerk's office or other voter registration sites, or you can download the National Voter Registration Application through the NM Secretary of State's website. To find your County Clerk and other information, go to http://www.sos.state.nm.us/sos-VoterReg.html. To confirm your registration, find your precinct, district, and other voting information, visit https://voterview.state.nm.us/.
ABSENTEE BALLOTS
An absentee ballot is a way to vote if you are unable to get to your polling place on Election Day. You mustrequest and file an absentee ballot application from your County Clerk or City Clerk (if Municipal Election) by 5 p.m. on the Friday prior to the election.
Some of the reasons why a citizen may want to request an absentee ballot:
· *Elderly or disabled and unable to make the trip to a Voting Center or polling place
· *Will be out of town during election
· *Unable to go to polls due to religion, work, or other reason
· *Plan to work as a poll worker in another precinct rather than in home precinct
For more information about voting and to download a voter registration form or absentee ballot application,
visit http://www.sos.state.nm.us/sos-VoterReg.html.
UNLEASH YOUR POWER: VOTE!!!
The League of Women Voters of New Mexico is an inclusive, independent, and nonpartisan organization for men and women who are committed to civic improvement.
The League helps safeguard democracy by advocating for good government, ethics, accountability, transparency, and public involvement. The League educates voters about key issues, including voting rights, human rights, health care, quality education, social services, environmental protection, and fair tax policy.
Local Leagues provide voter registration services, Voter Guides, and Candidate Forums.
League of Women Voters of Central New Mexico www.lwvcnm.org 505-884-8441
League of Women Voters of Greater Las Cruces www.lwvlc.org 575-524-8683
League of Women Voters of Los Alamos www.lwvlosalamos.org use email link, please
League of Women Voters of Santa Fe County www.lwvsfc.org 505 982-9766
If you live elsewhere, contact theLeague of Women Voters of New Mexico, which has members all around the state who do not live in the areas where there are local Leagues. www.lwvnm.org or 505-884-8441.
LWVSFC Voting 101 1-10-12
