This message is from Ellen Pinnes and The Disability Coalition.

Election Day (November 5) is just a week away, and the last day for early voting is this Saturday (November 2).  So be sure to return your absentee ballot if you got one, or go to the polls this week or next Tuesday.  Every vote counts, and that includes YOURS!

First, a few reminders about absentee ballots: 

• All absentee ballots must be received by the County Clerk (not just postmarked) by the time the polls close at 7:00 on November 5, or the vote won’t be counted.  You can deliver the ballot to the Clerk’s office or a polling site or dropbox.  Your caregiver or a member of your immediate family or household can deliver it on your behalf.  (That includes a spouse or domestic partner, children, parents, grandchildren, grandparents, siblings, or a person with whom you have a continuing personal relationship.)  If you haven’t returned your absentee ballot yet, you may want to deliver it instead of mailing it, to make sure it arrives on time.
• If you got an absentee ballot but you’ve changed your mind and want to vote in person instead, you can do that.  At the polling place, you’ll sign a sworn statement that you haven’t used and won’t use the absentee ballot.  That ballot will be canceled and you’ll get a new one to use in voting at the polling site.  
• If you requested an absentee ballot but didn’t get it, you can vote in person.  You’ll sign a sworn statement that you didn’t receive your ballot and you’ll get a new one.
• To find locations and hours to vote early or on Election Day, contact your county clerk, check the clerk’s website, or go to the Voter Information Portal at NMVote.org:
  • Scroll down and click on “Find My Registration and Election Information”
  • Enter your name, birth date and county
  • Verify that you’re not a robot, and click on “Search”
  • Click on “My Polling Location” in the list on the left side

Check that list for other helpful information too – you can track your absentee ballot if you submitted one, find contact information for your county clerk, and get a copy of your “sample ballot”.  

It’s a good idea to get a sample ballot ahead of time so you can review it and be prepared before you go into the polling booth to mark your ballot. If you haven’t yet registered to vote, you can register when you go to vote.  

Same-day registration during the early voting period will be available at the county clerk’s office and it may be offered at other polling locations in your county – confirm before you go by calling the clerk’s office and/or checking their website, or look at the list of polling locations on NMVote.org – there’s a column showing whether same-day registration is available at that site.  You’ll need to present identification to register, so bring an official photo ID with you.  (If you have questions about the required ID, contact your county clerk’s office for more information.) 

You can also register on Election Day. On Election Day, the polls will be open from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Remember, you have the right to an accessible polling place and the use of an accessible voting machine if you need one due to your disability.  That includes the right to privacy when you mark your ballot, so if you’re using a machine that isn’t positioned in a way that protects your privacy, have the poll workers reposition it for you.  If you have problems when voting and the poll workers can’t help, ask to talk to the precinct judge.  You can also report problems to the County Clerk or by calling the Secretary of State’s office at 505-827-3600. Disability Rights New Mexico also can help resolve voting problems relating to disability.  Call 505-256-3100 or 1-800-432-4682 toll-free. Thanks for making the voice of the disability community heard by voting! 

NOTE:  If you weren’t able to attend The Disability Coalition’s October 1 webinar that gave an overview of voting for people with disabilities, a recording of the event and the PowerPoint slides are available on the Disability Rights Awareness Days website.  Go to www.arcnm.org and double-click on the link in the Disability Rights Awareness Days banner at the top of the homepage to view the recording and download the slides. 

The Disability Coalition is funded in part by the  New Mexico Developmental Disabilities Council  through Federal Program funding.  Additional funding is provided by  The Arc of New Mexico, Disability Rights New Mexico, the Independent Living Resource Center, and New Vistas. If you prefer to receive emails directly from The Disability Coalition, please send a message to EPinnes@msn.com  with “subscribe” in the subject line.