by Sharon Niederman
COLFAX — Election day, Nov. 8, 2022 will be “just another election,” says Colfax County Clerk Rayetta Trujillo. Despite high temperatures and hot rhetoric running in other parts of the nation, the midterm mood in northeastern New Mexico is calm and collected.
No special precautions are being taken, Trujillo says. “If there is any difficulty, we’ve told the election officials, just call 911 and we will call an officer,” she says. “We’re going to conduct it to the best of our ability.”
Early voting is “pretty steady,” Trujillo says, and much the same as previous midterms, with no particular trends emerging. She and her staff give up their days off to conduct mobile voting around the county. The Oct. 22, 2022 voting in Angel Fire saw 117 people turn out. Mobile voting will also be available in Eagle Nest Oct. 27, Cimarron Oct. 28, at Springer-Luna Oct. 29 and Nov. 1 in Maxwell.
Early voting is ongoing at the County Clerk’s office in the Colfax County Courthouse, with the last day to vote early taking place in the clerk’s office Sat., Nov. 5 from 10 am-6 pm. The last day to receive an absentee ballot is Nov. 3, 2022.
Ballots may be turned in to the dropbox in back of the County Courthouse or the county clerk’s office until 7 pm on Election Day, Nov. 8, 2022.
To address a frequently expressed concern, about how to catch people who try to vote more than once by using absentee ballots, Trujillo says, “Our voting systems are real time. If someone has already sent their ballot in and it is received, it will show up as a ballot received,” she says. People do make honest mistakes, she says, and occasionally someone will show up at a polling place to vote having already returned their ballot, saying they thought they were voting in a different election.
“The buck stops here,” Trujillo emphasizes.
Election Day, November 8, 2022 hours are 7 am-7 pm with polling places in Raton at St. Patrick-St. Joseph Parish Hall and the Convention Center; Angel Fire Convention Center; Eagle Nest Convention Center; Cimarron Village Hall, Springer Luna, Maxwell School auditorium. All registered county residents may vote at any polling place.
According to the NM Secretary of State’s website, same day registration is available.
“New Mexicans who are eligible to vote can register to vote or update their voter registration immediately before voting in a statewide election during Early Voting and on Election Day. This is what’s known as “same day voter registration.”
Who is eligible for same day voter registration (SDR)?
Any eligible voter in New Mexico can register to vote or update their voter registration and then vote on the same day at their County Clerk’s office or at any polling location in their county on Election Day and participating Early Voting locations.
Where is SDR available?
SDR is available for eligible voters at their County Clerk’s office or at any polling location in their county on Election Day. Additional Early Voting locations may also provide SDR – it’s best to check with your local county clerk.
What do I need to bring for SDR?
Whether you are an unregistered voter or an already registered voter looking to update your registration, in order to use SDR you’ll need to bring:
(1) a New Mexico driver’s license or New Mexico identification card issued through the motor vehicle division of the taxation and revenue department;
(2) any document that contains an address in the county together with a photo identification
card; OR
(3) a current valid student photo identification card from a post-secondary educational institution in New Mexico accompanied by a current student fee statement that contains the student’s address in the county.
