Published 10/30/08
Rio Arriba and Santa Fe counties have been seeing record levels of interest prior to election day.
“It’s been huge,” Santa Fe County Chief Deputy for Elections Denise Lamb said. “I think the turnout is the highest of any I’ve experienced. I’m sure that people are really energized and excited over the presidential race.”
As of Monday at the Abedon Lopez Center in Santa Cruz, which serves as a Santa Fe County early voting site, Lamb said 486 people had voted.
Rio Arriba County Deputy Clerk Maria Elena Rodela said she has also seen more early voters and absentee ballot requests than she has in a decade. The County has also seen larger numbers of registered voters than during any previous election in 20 years: 25,507 total, with nearly 80 percent registered as Democrats.
In both Rio Arriba and Santa Fe counties, Oct. 31 is the last day a clerk can send an absentee ballot. Voters who ordered absentee ballots and did not receive them or forgot to send them back can sign an affidavit to that effect at their polling places Nov. 4 and will still be allowed to vote.
Nov. 3 is the last day to cast a replacement absentee ballot. Voters who requested absentee ballots but did not receive them can go to their county clerk’s office, sign a sworn affidavit saying they did not receive or vote using an absentee ballot, and receive a replacement ballot from the clerk. Absentee ballots can also be submitted to clerks or poll workers before 7 p.m. the day of the election.
Early voting is open Wednesday (10/29) through Friday from noon until 8 p.m. and Nov. 1 from 10 a.m. until 6 p.m. It will be held at the Rio Arriba County Clerk’s office in Española and at various sites in Santa Fe County, including the Abedon Lopez Center.
Early voters will also be accepted at the Rio Arriba Clerk’s office in Tierra Amarilla and the Santa Fe County Clerk’s office at 102 Grant Ave. in Santa Fe Wednesday (10/29) through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. On Saturday, the Santa Fe office will be open to early voters from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and the Tierra Amarilla office will be open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Polling places will be open Nov. 4 from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Santa Fe County voters with questions should call the clerk’s office at 986-6280. In Rio Arriba County, the clerk’s office can be reached at 753-1780 or (575) 588-7724.