Piaray Sadh Sangat, this year is a major election year in the State of New Mexico! (Yes, again and already!) No doubt you have seen billboards, posters, and door hangers telling you who to vote for in your neighborhood. National, State and local positions at all levels are up for re-election or grabs, as the case may be. Get informed and be sure to vote!

 

This is an "off-year" election at the National level: all 435 members to the U.S. House of Representatives are up for re-election. Here, if you live in Northern NM (Espanola, Santa Fe, Taos, Los Alamos) in Congressional District 3, your current Congressman is Ben Ray Lujan (D). If you live in the Albuquerque area in Congressional District 1, your current Congressman is Martin Heinrich. Links to their home pages can be found via the Democratic Party link below. To see who is in contention for their seats, start with the NM Secretary of State's office (link below). In New Mexico, these are the only National positions you'll see on the ballot in 2010.

 

2010 is Governor Bill Richardson's (D) last year in office. There one Democratic and several Republican contenders, all competing for the Party slot on the November ballot. Additionally, the lieutentant governor, several judgeships, the attorney general, Public Regulation Commission members, and more are similarly in contention. See the Party links below for names and details. No matter what, the political scene in New Mexico will be different a year from now. How much of course, depends on who is elected. So if you don't like the scene now, get informed and vote.

 

We have Ashram members in 4 counties: Santa Fe (includes our Ashram in Sombrillo), Rio Arriba, Taos, and Bernalillo (includes Albuquerque). The Secretary of State's office link below has a wealth of information on voter registration, State positions in contention, and more. You'll also find your County Clerk's contact information. If you are not already registered to vote, or have moved your residence since the last election and need to update your registration, start at the County Clerk's office for your county. If you do not know your County, start at the Secretary of State's office, and they'll let you know what County you are in, based on your physical address.

 

For Espanola residents, the Rio Arriba County Clerk's office is on Industrial Park Road past the new Espanola Post Office. The closest Santa Fe County Clerk's office is in Pojoaque.

 

FYI: Northern NM is heavily Democratic. So, in Rio Arriba, Taos, and even Santa Fe Counties, there is often no Republican candidate on the ballot for local slots such as State representative, Probate Judge, County Commissioner and the like. Any questions about (any Party's) candidates running for local office in your County or neighborhood, please contact the (relevant) Party office for your County (links below). Most local candidates do not (yet?) have campaign websites. Billboards and signage in your neighborhood will also tell you who is running for what office under which Party in your voting district.

 

Monday, May 3: you must be registered to vote by this date to vote in the June 1 primary.

Tuesday, June 1: State primary election day. You must be registered to vote as a Republican or Democrat to vote in the primary. Independents/"Declined to State" cannot vote in the Primary. Green Party members, please inquire with your County Clerk, as this has been in contention in the past.

Tuesday, November 2: State general election. You must be registered to vote in order to cast a ballot.

 

 

NM Democratic Party: http://www.nmdemocrats.net/inner.asp?z=31 (includes links to campaigns of Democratic candidates running for State-level office).

 

County-level Democratic Party leaders: http://www.nmdemocrats.net/county.asp (contact your County chair to find out local candidate information)

 

NM Republican Party: http://gopnm.com/counties/ (includes links to campaigns of Republican candidates running for State-level office).

 

County-level Republican Party leaders: http://gopnm.com/Candidates.aspx (Contact your County chair to find out local candidate information)

 

NM Green Party: http://www.greenpartynm.org/