Local elections

Campaign filings for the 2024 state legislative elections show that eight House and nine Senate seats have no incumbents running for re-election. There are also some big shake-ups among Republican leadership.

Santa Fe residents will vote next week on whether it should be easier to bring initiatives and referendums before voters. City officials are mixed about the idea. Some say it could increase democracy while others argue it could make it easier for special interest groups to get initiatives on the ballot.

Los Ranchos de Albuquerque is a small village with agricultural roots near the city's north valley. The semi-rural community is also an expensive place to live. The affordability of housing amid an aging demographic has become a key debate in the four-way contest for mayor.

Two of the seven City of Albuquerque bonds on the ballot in the Nov. 7 election go towards issues top-of-mind for many residents, elected officials and city council candidates alike: public safety and housing. Albuquerque Fire Rescue — not police — would see the biggest chunk of the $25 million public safety bond, and affordable housing would get the single largest windfall from another $35 million pot of money up for voter approval.

Albuquerque voters have a number of bonds on their ballot this year to fund city infrastructure. Over $88 million dollars across three general obligation bonds would go toward improving city roads, buildings, animal shelters, storm sewer systems, and energy conservation if passed.

Albuquerque residents have several bonds on their ballots this election related to education. Central New Mexico Community College, Albuquerque Public Schools, and city libraries and museums all stand to receive millions in public funding for capital projects. The largest of the three, which will appear on Bernalillo and Sandoval County ballots, is for CNM, which stands to receive $80 million for campus improvements.

Tuesday, Oct. 24, is the last day to request an absentee ballot for the 2023 Regular Local Election. Some states require voters to have an excuse to vote absentee, but not New Mexico.

It’s election time and several candidates will be vying for three seats on the Albuquerque Public Schools Board. On the next Let’s Talk New Mexico, we’ll be asking the candidates their thoughts on the current state of education and what their contributions to the board would be.

Next month’s election will reshape the Albuquerque City Council, with four of the nine seats up for grabs. How it shakes out could make or break Democratic Mayor Tim Keller’s ability to follow through on his agenda. The last council election saw it inch to the right — a balance that could be bolstered or reversed with two seats held by Democrats and two held by Republicans on the ballot.

While campaigns and news coverage of next year’s general election are already well underway, there’s actually an election to vote in before that one. Early voting starts Tuesday for the Nov. 7 local election and, while online registration ends Monday, would-be voters can still register when they go to cast their ballot.