More than 1.25 million people are registered to vote in New Mexico as of Friday, according to a report issued by the secretary of state's office. Santa Fe County has 98,797 voters as of the most recent report, which is the third highest among New Mexico Counties. About 416,300 people are registered to vote in Bernalillo County.
But we always want more.
Midterm elections, at this point in American history, are pivotal moments. And in our state, Governor Martinez is out, and two very different candidates are running to replace her with a recent poll showing the race is tight.
So vote. Do it. If you're not sure if you're registered, you can check online at the secretary of state's voter services website.
Luckily, New Mexico has been kicking off some voter outreach and registration programs, particularly towards young people. On Saturday Sept. 29, Studio Center of Santa Fe (formerly Warehouse 21) hosts a music and voting fest from 5-7 pm. You can drop in, dance to the beats of Grammy-nominated DJ Chill Factor-5 and register to vote. Then on Nov. 6, voters who bring an "I Voted" sticker to Studio Center or share a picture of themselves at the polls on social media can get free tickets to see Band of Heathens, an Austin-based country folk-rock band supported by the aforementioned DJ and rapper OTWO.
"It's important to reach out to young voters," says Elliot Stern, president of the Warehouse 21 board and co-creator of the events. "Especially young voters who don't have the means to connect to the voting process."
There's not much of an excuse not to register. You can't gripe about the government if you don't vote. For heaven's sake, you even get free pizza and country folk-rock. Who could complain?
The secretary of state's office is also working on increasing voter turnout via getting more registered voters of any age on the rolls.
"Some people don't even know they have to register," says Alex Curtas, communications director for the office. "They show up at the polls and just can't vote."
Curtas says the office has conducted training for voter registration agents such as those hosted by the Center for Civic Policy from Albuquerque and the League of Women Voters, the Santa Fe chapter of which is co-sponsoring Saturday's event in Santa Fe.
Voters also can register online, at any DMV office, or at the county clerk's office. The deadline to be eligible in the general election is Oct. 9. Early and absentee voting starts that same day.
