In southeast New Mexico Republicans vote in larger numbers during early voting

Carlsbad Current-Argus

Southeast New Mexico Republicans surpassed Democrats in early and absentee voting ahead of New Mexico’s June 7 primary, according to data from the New Mexico Secretary of State’s office.

Chaves County Republicans led neighboring counties casting 1,209 early in person voters as of May 27. Lea County Republicans cast 615 early in person votes. Eddy County Republican cast 605 early in person votes, per Secretary of State’s data.

Lea County and Chaves County Republicans voted via absentee ballots in similar numbers, 59, while Eddy County Republicans cast 23 absentee ballots as of May 27.

Instructions at the Eddy County Sub-Office in Artesia on May 26, 2022 reminds voters how to fill out an election ballot. Early voting ends days before the June 7 New Mexico Primary in Carlsbad and Artesia.

Absentee voting in New Mexico started May 10.

Chaves County Democrats outpaced Democrats in neighboring counties. There 284 early in person votes were cast by GOP members. In Eddy County, 167 Democrats voted in person as of May 26 while 69 Democrats voted early in person in Lea County.

Thirty-eight Chaves County Democrats voted absentee as of May 27. Thirty-two Democrats voted by absentee ballot in Lea County, while 14 voted absentee in Eddy County, per data from the Secretary of State.

More:Eddy County Republicans ahead of Democrats in early absentee voting for June 7 primary

The Chaves County Clerk’s office fielded 340 absentee ballot requests as of May 27. In Lea County 183 voters requested absentee ballots while 108 voters, according to the data.

Absentee ballots may be returned to a county clerk’s office or any polling location on Election Day no later than 7 p.m., the Secretary of State’s website noted.

Eddy County and Lea County both reported 23 voters utilized same day registration as of May 27. Chaves County reported 51 voters choosing to register and vote the same day.

A sign outside the Eddy County Sub-Office in Artesia reminds residents early voting is in progress for the June 7 New Mexico Primary. People may vote early in Carlsbad and Artesia.

Same day registration allowed people to vote or update existing registration at their respective county Clerk’s office, according to the Secretary of State’s website.

Early voting at the Eddy County Clerk’s office in Carlsbad or the Eddy County Sub-Office in Artesia concludes June 4 at 4 p.m. There will be no early voting on Memorial Day, per the Eddy County Bureau of Elections website.

More:New Mexico's 2022 primary election is June 7. Here's your guide to voting in Eddy County

Early voting started May 21 across New Mexico.

Mike Smith can be reached at 575-628-5546 or by email at MSmith@currentargus.com or @ArgusMichae on Twitter.

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