CIBOLA COUNTY, N.M. – Cibola County voters will not only choose candidates in the Nov. 3 general election, they will decide seven statewide ballot questions that could affect state government, school elections, university boards, legislative pay and public bond funding.
According to election information provided through the New Mexico Secretary of State and the Cibola County Clerk’s Office, voters will see four proposed constitutional amendments and three general obligation bond questions on the November ballot.
Constitutional Amendment 1 asks voters whether bills passed by the Legislature should become law if the governor does not sign or veto them within the required time. The proposal would also require veto messages for bills vetoed in whole or in part by the governor. In plain terms, this question deals with the governor’s veto power and what happens when the governor takes no action on a bill.
Constitutional Amendment 2 asks whether New Mexico should remove the requirement that school elections be held separately from partisan elections. If approved, this would allow school elections to be held at the same time as partisan elections.
Constitutional Amendment 3 concerns the boards of regents that govern state educational institutions. The amendment would create nominating committees to provide lists of nominees to the governor for appointment of nonstudent regents. Student regents would be appointed from lists provided by elected student governing bodies. The amendment would also restrict nonstudent regents from changing political party registration shortly before appointment.
Constitutional Amendment 4 asks voters whether New Mexico should allow compensation for state legislators. The proposed compensation would be limited to the median household income for New Mexico. The amendment also says legislative pay would have to go down if the state’s median household income falls and could only increase if median household income rises. The proposal also includes delayed implementation.
Voters will also see three bond questions. General obligation bonds allow the state to borrow money for specific public projects, with repayment tied to a statewide property tax levy as permitted by law.
Bond Question 1 asks whether the state should issue up to $21,582,213 for senior citizen facility improvement, construction and equipment acquisition projects.
Bond Question 2 asks whether the state should issue up to $19,324,188 for academic, public school, public and tribal library resource acquisitions.
Bond Question 3 asks whether the state should issue up to $352,225,379 for higher education, special schools and tribal schools capital improvements and acquisitions.
These questions are separate from candidate races. A voter can vote for candidates and also vote “yes” or “no” on each ballot question.
The general election calendar is also moving quickly. Voter registration by mail or online closes Oct. 6. That same day is also the first day absentee ballots can be mailed to voters who have submitted applications, and the first day of early voting and same-day registration at the county clerk’s office. Expanded early voting begins Oct. 17 at alternate voting locations.
The last day to request an absentee ballot is Oct. 20.
Early voting ends Oct. 31, and General Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 3.
The Secretary of State’s Office encourages voters to review statewide questions before casting a ballot. Voters can find more information at NMVote.org or contact the Cibola County Clerk’s Office for local election information.