[Editor's Note: As always, all editorials are the opinion of the writer and may not be the opinion of this publication.]

Dear Editor:

Grant County Clerk and staff are to be commended for their COVID-19 practices during early voting. Voting at the County Administrative Building was very efficient, and included COVID-19 innovation I'd not yet experienced. In addition to the usual masks and 6-foot spacing in line outdoors on the walkway, sanitation was clearly a top priority. Entry was controlled at the County Clerk's Office door so check-in maintained spacing. At the check-in counter, voters sign the electronic signature pad with a fresh wooden coffee stick which is then deposited in a small countertop wastebasket. I was handed a clean felt pen with my ballot. Someone sanitized the check-in counter just after I vacated it. There were empty booths despite the line behind me; I had a choice. When I left the voting booth to deposit my ballot, my booth was sanitized. I dropped my felt pen in a box by the door on my way out, fed my ballot into the machine, and happily accepted my "I voted early" sticker.

I was very impressed.

Because I had done some homework, I didn't take too long at the ballot booth. But it can be challenging to find objective information in advance. Even obtaining a sample ballot is a challenge. The Secretary of State's office can provide them, but has required personally-identifiable information (PII-first and last name plus date of birth) entered online to obtain it, potentially putting identity at risk. (I have commented to the Secretary that this should not be required; only an address should be needed.) While I have obtained past sample ballots from our County Clerk's office in person with my ID, COVID-19 has changed the ease or perceived safety of doing so.

Like so many others, we have received political mailings and phone or "robo" calls promoting various candidates - or maligning opposing candidates, not always in completely truthful ways.

I encourage everyone to REGISTER and to VOTE when eligible - not only in major presidential elections — AND to be a smart voter: do your own research to decide which candidate is best. Political ads and mailings are often biased, and not always approved by candidates. Large sums of private funds are funneled into advertising. Do your own research. As Secretary of State Maggie Tolouse Oliver states (https://www.sos.state.nm.us/candidate-and-campaigns/search-public-information/independent-expenditures)
"New Mexico's voters are bombarded with political ads trying to convince them to vote one way or another, and they deserve to know who is paying for them."

Researching candidates can be challenging. Just getting a sample ballot to see candidates can be complicated or inconvenient. "Debates" are no longer conducted in a traditional debate format, where each candidate is given the same question so that responses can reflect differences between candidates.

Some Sample Ballots and/or unbiased information on Candidates, Constitutional Amendments, and Bonds:
New Mexico Secretary of State office. https://www.sos.state.nm.us Select "Voting and Elections" or "Candidates and Campaigns". Request online ballot (requires entering personal information online) or see who funds campaigns-including local candidates-via New Mexico Finance Contribution Information System (e.g, fact check who has been funded by oil-gas companies, etc.). You can search by: Candidate, Political Action Committee, Contributors, Lobbyists, Lobbyist Employers, or select Data Download. (https://www.cfis.state.nm.us - click "Public Reports" (no need to log in). The "Advanced Search" is another option). Use the appropriate "CFIS" system link (through 2020 or future new system).
League of Women Voters (LWV). Sample ballot and unbiased information. "VOTE411 Voter Guide" online tool (https://www.vote411.org/ballot) for State (not local) positions, plus for-against discussions of ballot issues when on ballots. Your address is all that's needed (no name or other information needed, students -- note). Selecting any position shows you candidates and their answers to questions posed by LWV. LWV is a 100-year old, non-partisan, grassroots organization that believes voters play a critical role in democracy (https://www.lwv.org/about-us/history). New Mexico (www.lwvnm.org) has four "Leagues," the closest to Silver City being in Las Cruces.
Ballotpedia. Sample ballot and unbiased information. https://ballotpedia.org/Sample_Ballot_Lookup for State (not local) positions.

Wondering about all those Judges on the ballot? You can look up New Mexico judges' "report cards" - including whether they are recommended for retention or not, as well as scores by other attorneys, jurors, staff and other resources (e.g., police) at https://nmjpec.org/en/archives/2020. The Home Page advises that "Judges must receive 57% voter approval to remain on the bench."

Want information on New Mexico's Public Regulation Commission? Check their website http://www.nmprc.state.nm.us/#gsc.tab=0

Need to know what District you're in, or information on your current legislator? The NM Secretary of State website can identify your U.S. Congressional and State Senate and House Districts at https://www.sos.state.nm.us/voting-and-elections/data-and-maps/ (left sidebar). You can find and contact your State legislators at https://www.nmlegis.gov/Members/Find_By_Address.

What about local candidates? Local newspapers (Silver City Daily Press www.scdailypress.com, Silver City Sun-News www.scsun-news.com , and online Grant County Beat www.GrantCountyBeat.com announce upcoming learning opportunities and/or report on interviews with local candidates. Community calendars such as KURU/Gila Mimbres Community Radio (FM 89.1) and Grant County Beat e-calendar (formerly Grant County Health Council e-calendar) can also announce opportunities.

ONE example of biased promotion not approved by candidates was a New Mexico primary "New Mexico Strong" mailing with a Santa Fe return address promoting Democrats Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham and interim Senator Gabriel Ramos. I was surprised that it did not also mention Siah Hemphill, who was running in the Democratic primary against Mr. Ramos (and won). I noticed that the mailing was "Paid for by New Mexico Strong, not authorized by any candidate or candidate's committee." So I began researching "New Mexico Strong". "New Mexico Strong" is an Austin, Texas based organization which receives large sums of money from oil-gas companies. The Santa Fe New Mexican reported on May 2, 2020 (https://www.santafenewmexican.com/news/local_news/democrats-go-to-the-mat-in-senate-primaries/article_fb629daa-898e-11ea-afd0-3345b198a606.html)
New Mexico Strong, a political action committee headquartered in Texas, didn't bother rounding up any small campaign donors.

It didn't have to.

The PAC received $350,000 this spring, and all of it came from one contributor.

Chevron Corp. supplied the money. [NOTE: This is validated in the April 2020 Secretary of State Report of Expenditures and Contributions for the PAC New Mexico Strong: https://www.cfis.state.nm.us/media/PACReport.aspx?se=0&p=8312 -rsh]

This donation was evidence of a giant in the oil and gas industry taking sides in a clash between factions of the Democratic Party in New Mexico.

The PAC is using money from Chevron to promote conservative Democrats in the state Senate who face liberal challengers in the June 2 primary election…. 

The Albuquerque Journal reported on this organization two years ago (June 1, 2018, https://www.abqjournal.com/1179850/industryfunded-pacs-back-moderate-dems-in-primary.html), reporting:
SANTA FE – Three Republican-connected political committees bankrolled by oil companies and other corporate interests – including the parent company of Public Service Company of New Mexico – have waded into contested Democratic primary races ...

...The independent expenditure groups – also known as super PACs – have used the hefty contributions to pay for campaign mailers and ads supporting certain moderate Democrats and targeting other more progressive candidates in contested races for land commissioner, the Public Regulation Commission and the state House. …

...Another independent expenditure group that's been active in primary election campaign is New Mexico Strong, a group based in Austin, Texas, that was created in December 2017, according to the Secretary of State's Office.
...New Mexico Strong received $274,250 in contributions last month from two oil companies – Chevron and Artesia-based Mack Energy Corp. – and has used the money on campaign ads and mailers

VOTERS - PLEASE be informed. Vote your choice. Know your candidates. Don't believe everything you read or hear.

Respectfully Submitted,
Ronnee-Sue Helzner
Silver City, NM