Commissioners OK precinct changes

By Tom Treweek   Rio Rancho Observer    20 June 2005

The Sandoval County Commissioners voted to split four voting precincts in Rio Rancho at Thursday's meeting.

The change affects people in precincts 46 (around Southern and Unser boulevards), 50 (Enchanted Hills), 63 (Rio Rancho Estates), and 67 (North Hills). Each precinct will be split in two, with precinct 50 being divided into three.

One portion of Corrales, which was in Bernalillo County during the previous election, will be added to the precinct already in Sandoval County. In a special election last February, Bernalillo County voters approved the annexation of Corrales by Sandoval County.

Precinct lines are determined by population, Eddie Gutierrez, manager of the Bureau of Elections, said. State statute dictates that any precinct that records over 800 votes must be split before the next general election.

Gutierrez said that the precinct changes are based on population, not voter registration. Precinct boundaries are also determined by the physical layout of the area.

Affected voters will receive new registration cards that show the new polling location with a letter explaining the changes. Gutierrez said that residents who do not receive a letter should assume nothing changes.

Because it is possible that a letter does not reach its intended destination, Gutierrez encourages residents to call the Bureau of Elections with any questions.

Poll workers will be able to help voters find their precinct on election day by checking with the bureau, but voters can always use a provisional ballot at any of the county's polling locations, a step Gutierrez hopes voters avoid.

Gutierrez said he may bring more precinct changes, particularly regarding the addition, relocation or deletion of polling locations, before the commission before the October deadline.

One problem that arose during the commission meeting was the lack of suitable polling locations. Rio Rancho prohibits use of fire stations for polling, so the county is limited to churches, schools and residences, Gutierrez said. It may be possible for county manager Debbie Hays to rent trailers to house the polling equipment.

Gutierrez said he "wouldn't mind asking" for residents to volunteer their homes for county use on election day, especially in areas where no suitable locations exist, such as North Hills. He cautioned that homes used as polling locations must be used for only that purpose throughout the day.

Rio Rancho resident Todd Hawthorne expressed concern over the lack of voting machines available, saying that 40 precincts would not help if there isn't enough voting equipment.

County Clerk Sally Padilla said that she is working with New Mexico Secretary of State Rebecca Vigil-Giron to get more voting machines, but she is confident that the equipment the county has, both existing and recently purchased, will be adequate.

The next countywide election will be the primary in June 2006.