Election Protection

Amber Carrillo from Common Cause New Mexico reminds us why temporary changes to voting procedures are important for Indigenous communities during the pandemic, and the challenging decision by tribal administration to limit or cut polling locations during the primary.

Heather Ferguson, executive director for Common Cause New Mexico was the guest speaker at the League of Women Voters virtual Lunch with a Leader Jun. 16.

SB4 is a step in the right direction to ensure voters can safely cast ballots during the COVID-19 pandemic.

For the past three months, given the COVID-19 public health emergency, Common Cause New Mexico, along with many other community groups, has been encouraging, reminding and instructing voters how to make their voices heard through absentee voting.

Even with the pandemic dominating the news, there are signs of strong voter engagement this year, said Heather Ferguson, executive director of Common Cause New Mexico. About 155,000 voters, for example, had returned absentee ballots through Friday morning, or about seven times more than in the 2016 primary.

VOTE BY MAIL TO PROTECT DEMOCRACY AND CITIZEN HEALTH Joint Amicus Brief: “Standard in-person voting would force the people of New Mexico to choose between their safety and the exercise of their franchise.”