Los Alamos County trains poll workers, still seeks election volunteers

Los Alamos County Clerk Michael Redondo walked volunteers through vote tabulators at the Municipal Building on April 23, a visible sign that the county is already gearing up for the June 2 primary while still looking for more election workers.

The training matters because poll workers do far more than sit at a table. They verify registrations, issue ballots, prepare polling places and demonstrate voting equipment, all jobs that shape whether Election Day moves quickly or turns into a bottleneck. The U.S. Election Assistance Commission says having enough poll workers is critical to a successful election and helps voters get the assistance they need for a smooth voting experience.

In Los Alamos County, that staffing question is tied directly to how the June 2 primary will run. The county says the race will determine major-party nominees for the November 3 general election, and its Clerk’s Office says it conducts federal, state, county and local elections with the New Mexico Secretary of State. Redondo, who became county clerk in January 2025 after four and a half years as probate judge, is now the public face of that operation.

State rules for New Mexico’s semi-open primary also make voter education more important this year. Voters who are not registered with a qualified political party may choose either major-party ballot without changing their registration. Voters who are registered with a major party must have been affiliated with that party 28 days before Election Day, and Los Alamos County says voters registered with the Democratic or Republican parties cannot change party affiliation after May 5 for this primary.

The county has also been pushing its vote-center system, which lets any registered county voter cast a ballot at any open site in Los Alamos County. Mesa Public Library and White Rock Branch Library are among the locations voters can use, a convenience that can reduce confusion and help shorten lines when turnout rises.

Los Alamos is also trying to build the next generation of election workers. Residents age 16 and 17 can serve through a student poll worker program, and the county’s application requires applicants to be at least 16, U.S. citizens, mentally able to complete assigned tasks, and able to attend instruction, with school certification and parent or guardian consent.

Behind all of it is the Clerk’s Office, which the county describes as its trusted, credible, verified source for election information. The office also maintains a records database with more than 130,000 electronic public record documents, a reminder that election work in Los Alamos depends on more than machines and ballots. It depends on trained people who know the process well enough to keep it steady when voters arrive.