According to the Doña Ana County elections office, 2,637 ballots had been cast or received as of 5:12 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 8.
By Levi Gwaltney for Las Cruces Digest
Multiple Sources
Early voting is underway in Doña Ana County for the Nov. 3 general election, with more than 2,600 ballots already cast, a new nonpartisan voters’ guide available to residents, and a Pentagon directive requiring military commanders to provide time for voting assistance during October.
According to the Doña Ana County elections office, 2,637 ballots had been cast or received as of 5:12 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 8. That total included 2,536 in-person early votes and 101 absentee ballots received. Another 790 voters cast ballots Thursday at the Doña Ana County Government Center.
Early Voting Locations and Deadlines
Early voting began Tuesday, Oct. 6, at the Doña Ana County Government Center, 845 N. Motel Blvd. in Las Cruces.
Voting is available Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., with additional hours from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 31. The location will be closed Monday, Oct. 12, for Indigenous Peoples’ Day.
Eight additional expanded early voting locations will open Saturday, Oct. 17, operating Tuesday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. through Oct. 31.
Absentee ballots began mailing Oct. 6. Applications for absentee ballots must be received by Tuesday, Oct. 20, and completed ballots must be received by 7 p.m. on Election Day, Nov. 3.
The county will operate 42 Voting Convenience Centers on Election Day, open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Voters can find locations and election information at DACElections.com, apply for absentee ballots at NMVote.gov, or contact the county elections office at 575-647-7428.
League Distributes 14,000 Voters’ Guides
The League of Women Voters of Southern New Mexico has distributed 14,000 copies of its free, 24-page Voters’ Guide covering races on the Doña Ana County general election ballot.
The guide includes local contests and statewide races, including governor, lieutenant governor, secretary of state, attorney general, public land commissioner, judicial positions and New Mexico’s 2nd Congressional District.
League President Liz Rodriguez-Johnson said the publication is intended to help residents understand candidates’ perspectives and experience before voting.
“The guide gives voters better insight into the candidates’ perspectives and experiences,” Rodriguez-Johnson said.
The guide features candidates’ responses to questions developed by the League. Several candidates also submitted answers in Spanish.
Printed copies were included in the Oct. 2 edition of the Las Cruces Bulletin and distributed to locations including the Doña Ana County Government Center, Las Cruces City Hall, Branigan Memorial Library, senior centers, schools, banks and rural communities.
An electronic version is available at LWVSNM.org, while candidate responses and additional election information can be found at Vote411.org.
Pentagon Orders Military Voting Stand Down
The Department of War has directed commanders and supervisors to conduct a one-day military voting stand down during October to help service members and eligible family members exercise their voting rights.
The directive requires the stand down to be completed by Oct. 15 and establishes a recurring requirement during October of every even-numbered year.
Under the order, service members must be given time to consult unit Voting Assistance Officers, review state voting requirements, complete voter registration and submit Federal Post Card Applications if they choose to vote by absentee ballot.
Commanders must also provide time for service members to vote during the duty day and exercise scheduling flexibility so personnel can assist spouses and voting-age dependents with registration and absentee ballot applications.
The memorandum emphasizes that all voting assistance must remain strictly nonpartisan. Commanders, voting assistance officers and other leaders are prohibited from attempting to influence how service members or their families vote.
The directive falls under the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act, which provides voting protections for military personnel and eligible overseas citizens. The Department’s Federal Voting Assistance Program supports those voters and assists states in meeting federal requirements.
Military voters and eligible family members can find assistance through the Federal Voting Assistance Program.
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