Aimed at Increasing Access to Early Voting Locations to Revive Voter ID
 
Santa Fe, NM – Voter ID legislation emerged today on the floor of the House of Representatives, when House Republicans attempted to hijack House Bill 524, “Alternative Voting Locations in Certain Areas,”  introduced by Representative Nate Cote (D-Dona Ana & Otero-53). HB 524 will expand polling locations for voters who do not have easy access to early voting. The bill would fix vague language in state statute relating to when an early voting location is required. It will mandate an early vote location for a population center of more than 1500 voters, who have to travel more than 50 miles to the nearest early voting location.
 
Although repeated attempts to require voter identification have failed to pass in the House, House Republicans utilized the opportunity of the debate over HB 524, to attempt to revive voter ID legislation yet again. Even though there is no clear evidence of voter fraud, Republicans tried to mislead the House into passing legislation that would limit access to the polls for New Mexico’s elderly, low-income and Native Americans. Republicans chose to pursue legislation to disenfranchise voters, rather than support legislation aimed at expanding access to the polls.
 
Chairwoman of the House Voters and Elections Committee, Representative Mary Helen Garcia said “There has been the repeated concern from some people about voter ID, and we have addressed their concerns repeatedly. I am wondering why we are now repeating the same debate again, when we have already had it, over and over. Democrats do not support any legislation that will limit the ability to New Mexico’s elderly and low-income residents to vote.”
 
“My concern is since we passed the Voting Right Act during LBJ’s administration, it has been a constant struggle to up hold it,” said Representative Lucky Varela. “Even today parts of the voting right act are being challenged in the Supreme Court, however in New Mexico, we have a duty to protect a citizen’s right to vote, not limit it.”
 
The bill substitution introduced by Representative Paul Bandy (R- San Juan-3), was tabled with a vote of 38-31 and 1 absent. HB 524 did gain the approval of the House with a vote of 38-31 and 1 absent.
 
“Our job is to protect our citizen’s right to vote,” said Rep. Nate Cote. “House Bill 524 will make it easier for people who have had to travel long distances to voter early or have ended up waiting in lines for hours to vote on Election Day. I was surprised to see this attempt to expand access to voting, turn into a debate on Voter ID, but I am glad a majority of the Representatives in the House choose to expand access to the polls not limit it.”

Content on the Beat

WARNING: All articles and photos with a byline or photo credit are copyrighted to the author or photographer. You may not use any information found within the articles without asking permission AND giving attribution to the source. Photos can be requested and may incur a nominal fee for use personally or commercially.

Disclaimer: If you find errors in articles not written by the Beat team but sent to us from other content providers, please contact the writer, not the Beat. For example, obituaries are always provided by the funeral home or a family member. We can fix errors, but please give details on where the error is so we can find it. News releases from government and non-profit entities are posted generally without change, except for legal notices, which incur a small charge.

NOTE: If an article does not have a byline, it was written by someone not affiliated with the Beat and then sent to the Beat for posting.

Images: We have received complaints about large images blocking parts of other articles. If you encounter this problem, click on the title of the article you want to read and it will take you to that article's page, which shows only that article without any intruders. 

New Columnists: The Beat continues to bring you new columnists. And check out the old faithfuls who continue to provide content.

Newsletter: If you opt in to the Join GCB Three Times Weekly Updates option above this to the right, you will be subscribed to email notifications with links to recently posted articles.

Submitting to the Beat

Those new to providing news releases to the Beat are asked to please check out submission guidelines at https://www.grantcountybeat.com/about/submissions. They are for your information to make life easier on the readers, as well as for the editor.

Advertising: Don't forget to tell advertisers that you saw their ads on the Beat.

Classifieds: We have changed Classifieds to a simpler option. Check periodically to see if any new ones have popped up. Send your information to editor@grantcountybeat.com and we will post it as soon as we can. Instructions and prices are on the page.

Editor's Notes

It has come to this editor's attention that people are sending information to the Grant County Beat Facebook page. Please be aware that the editor does not regularly monitor the page. If you have items you want to send to the editor, please send them to editor@grantcountybeat.com. Thanks!

Here for YOU: Consider the Beat your DAILY newspaper for up-to-date information about Grant County. It's at your fingertips! One Click to Local News. Thanks for your support for and your readership of Grant County's online news source—www.grantcountybeat.com

Feel free to notify editor@grantcountybeat.com if you notice any technical problems on the site. Your convenience is my desire for the Beat.  The Beat totally appreciates its readers and subscribers!  

Compliance: Because you are an esteemed member of The Grant County Beat readership, be assured that we at the Beat continue to do everything we can to be in full compliance with GDPR and pertinent US law, so that the information you have chosen to give to us cannot be compromised.