Stop. Don’t take your ballot to the U.S. Post Office. Instead, drop it off at the Montezuma County Annex building on Main Street.
Montezuma County Clerk and Recorder Kim Percell has cautioned voters that despite a statewide mail-in ballot election process, it is too late to trust the federal postal service this close to Election Day, Nov. 3.
“The ballot would have to go to Albuquerque first before returning,” said Percell. “It’s best to drop off the ballots.”
Located on the corner of Main and Elm streets, the Montezuma County Clerk and Recorder office will be open Saturday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. to receive ballots. Normal business hours, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., return on Monday, and on Election Day, the office is open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
“All ballots must be received by 7 p.m. on Tuesday,” Percell said.
As of mid-afternoon Wednesday, Percell had received nearly 2,900 ballots.
“That’s about normal,” she said. “We always have less voter participation in a coordinated election.”
On Election Day, Percell said, no motor-vehicle registrations would be issued. She said closing motor vehicle records for the day was aimed to prepare her staff for the 2016 presidential election.
“It’s been a learning process,” said Percell, who is overseeing her first election since taking office in January.
Ballot items include Proposition BB, a surplus marijuana tax issue; Referendum 4A, a Dolores Water Conservancy District mill levy freeze; and Referendum 5A, a Southwest Memorial Hospital sales tax proposal. Residents living within Montezuma Cortez Re-1 School District boundaries are also selecting board representatives.
tbaker@the-journal.com
