General election is next week

With less than a week to go until Election Day, there is a lot of press about the presidential race but that shouldn’t distract voters from important county and state races on the ballot, as well as a number of general obligation bonds and state constitutional amendments.

On the ballot this year are the following local and state races for Valencia County voters.

Valencia County Commission

In Valencia County Commission District 2, incumbent Republican Troy Richardson is running against Democrat Duana Draszkiewicz.

In VCC District 4, incumbent Joseph Bizzell is running against Democrat Charles Eaton, and in VCC District 5, Republican Dante E. Berry is running unopposed.

Valencia County Clerk

Republican incumbent Mike Milam is running against Democrat Rustin Porter for the Valencia County Clerk’s seat.

Valencia County Treasurer

Republican Ron Saiz, the incumbent candidate for the Valencia County treasurer seat, is challenged by Michelle Tafoya, a Democrat, for Valencia County Treasurer.

N.M. Senate

District 30 Republican Sen. Joshua Sanchez is running for the District 29 seat against Democrat Tina Garcia. Sanchez is now in District 29 due to redistricting.

In N.M. Senate District 30, Democrat Angel Charley is unchallenged in the general election, as is Sen. Elizabeth Stefanics, the incumbent Democrat running for the District 39 seat.

N.M. House of Representatives

Republican Reps. Tanya Mirabal Moya and Brian Baca are both running unopposed for second terms in Districts 7 and 8, respectively.

In District 49 Republican incumbent Rep. Gail Armstrong is also running unopposed, as is Democrat Michelle Abeyta in District 69.

13th Judicial District Attorney

Democrat incumbent Barbara Romo will step into her second term as district attorney for the 13th Judicial District, running unopposed in both the primary and general elections.

The 13th Judicial District includes Valencia, Cibola and Sandoval counties.

On Tuesday, as election results come in to the Valencia County Clerk’s Office, the preliminary numbers will be posted on the New Mexico Secretary of State’s website as they have in the past; however, the numbers this year will be extra preliminary since a 2023 legislative change now gives those voting by absentee ballot time to “cure” mistakes, such as not signing the envelope or omitting the last four digits of their Social Security number as required.

As the clerk’s office receives and verifies absentee ballots, if a mistake is found, the voter will be informed by mail and allowed to submit the correct information. Voters have until 5 p.m. the Friday after the election to return the correction in order for their ballot to be counted.

After the deadline for cures closes at 5 p.m., Friday, Nov. 8, the absentee board will reconvene and finish tabulating the ballots.

Same-day registration is being offered at the county’s four early voting sites and at the 15 Voting Convenience Centers on Election Day, which allows any eligible voter to register or update their registration and vote on the same day.

There will be 15 Voting Convenience Centers open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., Tuesday, Nov. 5, to allow Valencia County voters to cast their ballots in person.

Early voting continues through Saturday, Nov. 2, and absentee ballots need to be returned by 7 p.m. on Election Day.

If voters haven’t returned their absentee ballots yet, to guarantee it’s returned by 7 p.m., Tuesday, Nov. 5, it is recommended to drop ballots off in person before Election Day at one of the following locations — the Valencia County Clerk’s Office, 444 Luna Ave., Los Lunas, any of the early voting locations or any of the voting centers on Election Day.

There are also three, secure absentee ballot drop boxes in the county — at the Belen Community Center, the Bosque Farms Public Library and the Valencia County Administration Building.

Early voting locations are open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. through Saturday, Nov. 2:

•Belen Community Center, 305 Eagle Lane, Belen

• Bosque Farms Public Library, 1455 W. Bosque Loop, Bosque Farms

•Pueblo of Isleta Veterans Center, 4001 N.M. 314, Isleta

•Valencia County Administration Building, 444 Luna Ave., Los Lunas