By Mary Alice Murphy
A caller informed the Beat today that his voter registration had been returned because of insufficient funds.
He said he had had direct contract with a Post Office clerk, who said: "it happens all the time." Whether she was referring specifically to registration forms was not clear.
When the Beat went to the Post Office, no one would talk to the Beat, because it is media and because "we're a federal facility."
So the Beat went to see Robert Zamarripa, the Grant County clerk.
He was very forthcoming with information.
The mail-in form is known in Post Office parlance as Business Reply Mail. Most people have seen this type of mail. Where the stamp would go are the words: "No postage necessary if mailed in the United States." Also on this form is a notice that the First Class permit #10240 is out of Santa Fe, New Mexico and says postage will be paid by addressee.
This particular form has as its addressee, Grant County, Office of the Clerk, with the clerk's address.
Zamarripa said when the fund for this type of mail needs money, the Post Office holds the items and usually gives his office a call, and "I go and pay them. I take it out of a line item in my budget. The Post Office didn't alert me to the fact that the fund needed money. I have taken care of it. I have also talked to the Postmaster and made it clear this shouldn't happen. I put in $200, which usually lasts for years."
He noted that the two returned registrations were done by a third-party registration agent. "They should be walked to my office within 48 hours of the form being filled out."
Zamarripa does not recommend mailing voter registration forms because mail sent in the area has to go through El Paso, Texas, which may mean it does not reach the county clerk's office within the required 48 hours of completion.
"We've always had an understanding that the Post Office holds the voter registrations until I can pay," Zamarripa said.
He recommended that people register to vote online, which then pre-populates in the clerk's office.
http://www.sos.state.nm.us/Voter_Information/Voter_Registration_Information.aspx
The National Voter Registration Form ("National Form") is available online at www.eac.gov . This form may be downloaded and/or duplicated by any voter or organization. When the county information is input, it will go to that state and county.
The best option, according to Zamarripa, is to visit the Grant County Clerk's Office at 1400 Highway 180 East to fill out the paperwork or do the registration online.