Cast your ballot

Early voting centers open Saturday

Those beefy ballots are going widespread on Saturday, Oct. 19, as 19 early voting centers open across Bernalillo County.

The first-ever “Regular Local Election” features political races, bond issues and ballot questions from several public agencies. Participants include the city of Albuquerque, Albuquerque Public Schools, Central New Mexico Community College and more.

The Bernalillo County Clerk’s Office is administering the election and has a list of early voting sites online at bernco.gov/clerk/early-voting-locations.aspx.

Hours and days vary by location, but most are open from 8 a.m.-8 p.m. Monday through Saturday until Nov. 2. Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 5. This is the first election since state lawmakers passed the Local Election Act, which provides for consolidated elections in New Mexico.

The election in Bernalillo County is expected to cost $2.4 million, according to a spokesman for the County Clerk Linda Stover.

“This is a first-of-its-kind election, so there was limited information on what kind of turnout to expect,” Deputy County Clerk Jaime Diaz said in a news release. “Given the scope of this election, Clerk Stover decided to prepare in the same way we do for primary and general elections.”

Voters will see one of 58 different ballot combinations, depending on where they live in the county.

Four of nine Albuquerque City Council districts will pick representatives.

City voters will also see $128.5 million worth of general obligation bond questions, including a $21.7 million measure for “senior, family, community center, homeless and community enhancement”

that includes $14 million for a planned 24/7, centralized homeless shelter.

The Albuquerque ballot also includes a transportation infrastructure tax renewal question, and propositions related to public financing reform and “Democracy Dollars.”

APS is asking voters to approve a $290 million mill levy, bond package for construction projects at schools, turf fields, school equipment expenses and, primarily, maintenance work. APS is seeking to continue a tax or mill levy at the previous amount, which would generate $190 million over six years, and the district is also looking to issue $100 million of bonds over four years.

The election will also determine three of seven positions on both the APS Board of Education and the CNM governing board.