Town opts in to Local Election Act
The Town of Taos Council passed an ordinance by unanimous vote to opt in to the Local Election Act during a meeting Tuesday (April 26). The ordinance aligns the town elections with the November elections of oddnumbered years and will see all councilmembers’ and the mayor’s terms cut short by nine weeks.
The ordinance was moved up on the agenda at the beginning of the meeting, as many of the public comments submitted were regarding the possible adoption of the act. Every one of the 10 people who spoke or submitted a comment said they were in favor.
“[Voting in] March is a subtle way of discouraging people from participating in the election process,” read a letter from Taos resident Lawrence Baker. “[Opting into the act] will surely increase voter turnout and interest.”
Many people echoed this sentiment. “I believe in the intent of this ordinance — to make voting in local elections easier and more accessible for the citizens of Taos,” wrote resident Arianna Kramer.
“This would be a major step toward fiscal responsibility and a stronger democracy,” wrote resident Marjorie Luckey, referring to the money it would save the town.
In the March election, Town Clerk Francella Garcia said the town spent “almost $23,000.” She also noted the additional costs to the town. “It involved other departments than the clerk’s office,” she said, referencing the IT department, the facilities department, human resources, the GIS analyst along with legal and finance help.
Taos County Clerk Anna Martinez, who will now run the elections for the town, said it would help to streamline the election process, as in Red River, which adopted the act in January of 2019. “It’s nice to combine it all into one,” she said.
Councilmember Marietta Fambro questioned Martinez about the cost, to which Martinez responded “the state incurs all the cost. There is no cost to the town or the county.” Fambro also questioned how easy it was to distinguish between a town versus county resident. Martinez said they will be supplied a map by the town clerk that verifies voter information. “We work well with whatever entity we’re working with,” said Martinez.
Councilmember Nathanial
Evans asked if there was any research to indicate moving the election to November of oddnumbered years increased voter turnout. Martinez said that “it does increase voter participation. You also have the school board elections, water and sanitation, [etc.]. It makes turnout a lot higher, because it’s not one election, then another election, then another.”
Evans then made a motion to opt in to the Local Election Act, suggesting that terms be shortened by nine weeks. Councilmember Corilia Ortega seconded the motion, and after a roll-call vote, it passed unanimously.
Under the previous administration headed by Dan Barrone, the council decided not to opt in to the act, with then-councilmember Maestas and councilmember Darien Fernandez voting in favor of opting in, while councilmembers Evans and Fritz Hahn voted against it. Barrone broke the tie and chose not to opt in.