Spaceport tax election now too close to call

The election on whether to raise the gross receipts tax in Doña Ana County to help fund Spaceport America is too close to call.

The total from early voting and 20 precincts is 3,567 votes, or 50.6 percent, opposed to the tax and 3,484 votes, or 49.4 percent, in favor.

The new numbers I have, from nine additional precincts, are 831 votes, or 58 percent, in favor of the tax, and 592 votes, or 42 percent, opposed.

Though 59 percent of early votes opposed the tax, better than 60 percent of the vote in Las Cruces has, thus far, favored approval. If this keeps up, the “Yes” votes will have it, but it’s still too early to tell.

My totals include Sunland Park and Hatch, which were split down the middle – Sunland Park 19-19 and Hatch 112-109 in favor of the tax. My count also includes 403 votes from Picacho Hills.