Deb Haaland’s race headed into Election Day in New Mexico with polls open and voters already casting ballots across the state. Bernalillo County clerk Michelle Kavanaugh said the ballot is longer this year, and she urged people to review a sample ballot before leaving home.
By Monday, around 173,000 people in Bernalillo County had already cast a ballot, and the county said it had 74 locations available to residents. Kavanaugh said voting sites at schools are usually less crowded, and she said same-day registration remains available for people who did not register early.
Bernalillo County voting sites
Kavanaugh said voters need a photo ID and mail that shows a name and current address for same-day registration. She also said, “We had a very successful early voting period this year, kind of as expected, considering some of the dialogue that we’re seeing going on within the state and nationally,” adding that the county expected a very busy Election Day even after the strong early turnout.
The turnout figures show the change more clearly. During the 2022 midterm election, around 29.7% of voters cast their ballots early in-person. This year, early in-person voting rose to 31%, a gain of 1.3 percentage points.
Deb Haaland and Gregg Hull
The longer ballot is being counted alongside thousands of votes that will decide key races, including the governor’s contest. KOB 4 said it will have live coverage on its streaming channel right after the polls close and will break down the governor’s race, along with the races for the Senate and House of Representatives, during its 10 p.m. newscast.
Watch parties are set for Election Day evening. The state Republican Party and Gregg Hull are holding theirs at Hotel Albuquerque at Old Town at 6:30 p.m., while the Democrats and Deb Haaland are gathering at Route 66 Casino Hotel west of Albuquerque at 5 p.m. For voters heading out late, the practical step is simple: bring ID, check the sample ballot first, and use one of Bernalillo County’s 74 locations before polls close.
