2024 general election canvassed

The canvass for the 2024 General Election in Valencia County came off without a hitch earlier this month.

At a special meeting of the Valencia County Commission on Nov. 13, Valencia County Clerk Mike Milam presented the results of the November election.

There were 20,021 early votes, 8,833 cast on election day and 4,535 absentee ballots counted, a return rate of 95 percent, according to Milam. Voter turnout totaled 33,490 for the county, with 69.75 percent of registered voters casting a ballot.

Chief Deputy Clerk Brenda Green said the entire staff “stepped up in terms of hours, time and commitment. This was definitely the most monumental election in recent times.”

Green said four presiding judges came in as seasonal help for the office to help with election duties, and as of the special meeting, one was still in house helping process the more than 2,000 same-day voter registrations for Valencia County.

Milam, who won his bid for a second term as county clerk, said it was an honor and privilege to hold the position.

“I hope this great turn out continues,” Milam said. “People will say their vote doesn’t count, but recently we’ve had races in a tie and one was decided by two votes. So yes, every vote counts.”

The commission accepted the canvass on a 5-0 vote.

The election results now must be canvassed and certified by the New Mexico Secretary of State’s Office, which was scheduled for Tuesday, Nov. 26.