by EQNM staff
Like many Americans, you’ve probably been imagining Nov. 5, 2024 in your head since you saw live footage of insurrectionists descending on the U.S. Capitol building on Jan. 6, 2021. After years of wondering what could possibly come next for the nation and here at home in New Mexico—we’ll know soon enough. If you want to ensure that your voice is heard before the madness of Election Day, here’s another important date for you: Today!
Early voting begins in New Mexico on Oct. 8. You can learn more about your regional options through your County Clerk’s office. For example, here in Bernalillo County where Equality New Mexico is based in Albuquerque, we have the option to vote early at the Clerk’s Annex from Oct. 8-18, and at 20 Early Vote Convenience Centers from Oct. 19 thru Election Day.
While the importance of the presidential race is front-and-center, there are high stakes for us here.
“Our votes for president matter, but the votes we cast for state legislators can be so much more powerful sometimes when local legislative races are often decided by less than 100 votes,” says Marshall Martinez, EQNM’s Executive Director.
Early voting opportunities have increased in recent elections, as more states embrace the importance of making the process more accessible. According to the Brennan Center, a well-known authority on voting rights, early voting reduces stress on the whole system on Election Day, increases participation among groups that are often overlooked or disenfranchised, means shorter lines, improves poll worker performance, allows for the early detection of glitches, and increases voter satisfaction. Early voting results can also impact media coverage, helping to shape the story going into Election Day.
“Early voting is the easiest way to ensure that nothing takes your power away,” Marshall says. “Voting early on a Saturday after hitting the farmer's market is more fun than waiting in long lines on a Tuesday. It also means that a flat tire, being caught late at work, or evening traffic don't prevent you from getting to the polls on Election Day. It’s the best way to be certain you get your vote cast.”
There are 112 seats up for election in the New Mexico legislature, and a pro-LGBTQ majority in both the Senate and House of Representatives is at stake.
As LGBTQ voters, we’ll be impacted by who is in power. The incoming legislators will determine important issues like paid family and medical leave (which protects our chosen families), access to abortion and gender-affirming health care, access to behavioral health care, creating affordable housing (which serves a large population of homeless LGBTQ youth), and making real progress on public safety at the root level.
With so much hanging in the balance, we understand why many of us want to race to the polls as soon as possible. Visit NMvote.org to find information about how you can vote early—and vote for LGBTQ rights!