Diego Lopez, Editor
CIBOLA COUNTY, N.M. — The 2025 Regular Local Election is officially underway in Cibola County, with voters set to cast ballots on Tuesday, November 4, 2025, for city, school, and special district offices across the region.
New Mexico Secretary of State Maggie Toulouse Oliver issued the statewide proclamation calling the election in accordance with the Regular Local Election Act (NMSA 1978, Sections 122-2 to 1-22-19). The proclamation establishes that the Regular Local Election is nonpartisan, meaning no political party affiliations appear on the ballot.
City and Village Elections
Cibola County’s two municipalities, the City of Grants and the Village of Milan, both have local offices on this year’s ballot.
See Page A6 for information on Grants’ election and Page A7 for information on Milan’s.
School Board Contests
The Grants/Cibola County School District will hold elections for three board seats, representing Districts 1, 2, and 3. Each position carries a four-year term.
Voters in the Quemado Independent School District No. 2, which spans Catron and Cibola counties, will choose four school board members — three full four-year terms and one two-year term to fill a vacancy.
Soil and Water Conservation Districts
Cibola County voters will also help elect representatives to several soil and water conservation districts, which oversee land management and agricultural sustainability efforts across multiple counties.
• Lava Soil and Water Conservation District: Two supervisors, four-year terms.
• Quemado Soil and Water Conservation District: Two supervisors, four-year terms.
• McKinley Soil and Water Conservation District: Two supervisors, four-year terms.
• Salado Soil and Water Conservation District: Three supervisors, four-year terms.
• Valencia Soil and Water Conservation District: Three supervisors, including one twoyear unexpired term.
• Water and Sanitation Board: The Bluewater Water and Sanitation District will elect three directors, each serving a six-year term.
Early and Absentee Voting
Early voting begins Monday, October 7, 2025, and continues through Saturday, November 1, 2025, at designated sites. Absentee ballots will be accepted through 7 p.m. on Election Day, November 4.
The Cibola County Clerk’s Office will operate early voting Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., and on Saturday, November 1, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Satellite early voting will be available in the Laguna and Acoma communities from October 18 through October 21, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Election Day Voting Locations
Voters may cast ballots from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. at any of the 15 Voting Convenience Centers (VCCs) throughout the county, including: 1. Old County Complex – 515 W. High St.,
Grants
2. Cibola County Clerk’s Office – 700 E. Roosevelt Ave., Grants 3. Milan Parks & Recreation – 407 Airport Rd., Milan 4. Acoma Tribal Gymnasium – 33 A Pinsbarri Dr., Acoma 5. Ramah Chapter House – 434 BIA Route 125, Ramah 6. Laguna Tribal Building – 22 Capital Dr., Laguna 7. Bluewater Senior Center – 5 Pinon St., Bluewater 8. Bluewater Acres Fire Station – 9 Cod Dr., Thoreau 9. San Rafael Elementary – 27 Mesa View St., San Rafael 10. Cubero Elementary – 100 Main St.,
Cubero 11. Paraje Recreational Hall – 31 Paraje Rd., Paraje
12. San Mateo Fire Station – 110 San Mateo Main Rd.
13. Fence Lake Community Center – 2125 Hwy 36, Fence Lake 14. Seboyeta Elementary School – State Rd.
279, Seboyeta
15. Paguate Community Center – 60 Paguate Day School Rd., Paguate About the Regular Local Election
The 2025 Regular Local Election consolidates municipal, school, and special district elections statewide into one coordinated event each odd-numbered year.
The law was designed to streamline the voting process, reduce costs, and boost turnout for local races that directly affect communities, despite the fact it violated several New Mexico city charters, including the City of Grants’.
With leadership changes on the horizon for both Grants and Milan — and key seats open on the Grants/Cibola County School Board — this year’s local election represents a pivotal opportunity for residents to shape the direction of their schools, utilities, and municipal governments.
For registration details, sample ballots, or to confirm polling locations, visit NMVote.org or contact the Cibola County Clerk’s Office at (505) 285-2535.