Group urges early instead of absentee voting

A non-partisan voter protection group is recommending that those who haven’t yet received absentee ballots that they requested instead vote early today, and they’re especially concerned about the situation in Doña Ana County.

Election Protection, a group made up of representatives from Common Cause, unions and other organizations, says it has received numerous complaints that absentee ballots requested days or weeks ago have still not been received, and says that “appears to be a particularly significant problem in Doña Ana County.”

On Thursday, Secretary of State Mary Herrera said she is concerned that workers are stretched too thin in Doña Ana County and said the vast majority of complaints her office received this week came from Doña Ana County and related primarily to absentee voting.

The county’s acting elections supervisor, Mario Jimenez, has said his office isn’t understaffed and things are running smoothly.

Regardless, in response to the flood of absentee ballots in Doña Ana County and around the state, earlier this week Herrera authorized counties to allow voters who don’t want to wait for their absentee ballots to instead vote in person at early voting sites.

Election Protection recommends that voters who have requested but not received their absentee ballots instead vote early today, the last day of early voting, or vote in person on Election Day. Voters who have received their absentee ballots but not mailed them back would be wise to return them in person instead of mailing them in, the group says. The ballots must arrive at the county clerk’s office before 7 p.m. Tuesday or to your correct polling location before the poll closes on Tuesday, which means you must be in line before 7 p.m.

All early voting sites in Doña Ana County and around the state are open today from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Click here to find early voting locations in your county. You can vote at any site located in your county.

On Election Day, you must vote at your designated polling place or you’ll have to file a provisional ballot instead of voting on a regular ballot. Click here to find your Election Day polling place.

Election Protection has established a hotline in English (866-OUR-VOTE, which is 866-687-8683) and in Spanish (888-VE-Y-VOTA, which is 888-839-8682) for voters experiencing any problems voting, either at early sites, by mail or on Election Day. Voters, regardless of party registration, are encouraged to use this number if they have questions about voting.