By Mary Alice Murphy

A self-professed felon, who served 18 months, brought to the attention of the Beat a postcard he received in the mail from the New Mexico Secretary of State's office saying he "may be eligible to vote, but you do not appear to be registered."

The card stipulates that the person must be a resident of New Mexico and a U.S. citizen, and it gives them the opportunity to register online or through a paper form.

"I broke the law," "Bob" told the Beat. "I wouldn't snitch on someone."

He said he lived in Truth or Consequences at the time. He said he basically went to prison for the other person.

"I had been on the street since I was 12 -+ years old," Bob said. "My own lawyer put me in jail. He said: 'He won't talk, so we need to teach him a lesson.'

"I did my time," he continued. "Everyone has told me I'm a felon, so I can't vote. I have stayed out of trouble since I got out in 2005. District Court asked me to do jury duty. I told them I was a felon, and they said it didn't matter."

Bob said he knew when he went to prison that he was giving up his right to vote. "It was more important to me to live by my values and my code and not run my mouth."

He is now a member of the Brewer Hill Baptist Church, and works for the church, cooking, cleaning, "whatever I can do for them."

Bob is also living in a used motor home that he is buying from the church.

He questioned why he had received the invitation to register. Bob knows he must be on a list as a felon and wonders why he received the invitation to register to vote, when he is not eligible.

[The Secretary of State has put out a notice that some people may receive cards saying they may be eligible to register, but if they know of a reason why they are not eligible, they should not try to register.]