Expanded Early Voting Boosts Rio Rancho Turnout Over 2022

City Clerk Noel Davis told the Rio Rancho Governing Body at a Feb. 17 work session that early-voting turnout for the March 3 municipal election is running well ahead of the comparable period in 2022. Davis reported 343 voters in the first week that began Feb. 3 this year compared with 143 in 2022, and 404 voters in the expanded early-voting period that began Feb. 14 compared with 285 in 2022; absentee ballots cast so far were 248 this year compared with 714 in 2022.

Early voting in Rio Rancho is scheduled Feb. 3–28, with Election Day on March 3. The Broadmoor Senior Center at 3421 Broadmoor Blvd. opened for early voting beginning Feb. 3, with hours there Tuesday through Saturday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., and city officials expanded voting to additional neighborhood sites beginning the weekend of Feb. 14. Same-day voter registration is available at all early voting locations.

The five sites in use this election cycle include Broadmoor Senior Center; Loma Colorado Main Library, 755 Loma Colorado Blvd.; The Hub @ Enchanted Hills, 7845 Enchanted Hills Blvd.; the Southern Boulevard location at 2345 Southern Blvd., Suite C2; and Sabana Grande. A sign marking the Broadmoor Senior Center as a voting center was photographed Tuesday, Feb. 3, and the facility is one of the five early voting locations serving the municipal officer election.

Absentee voting is lagging compared with 2022. City Clerk Davis presented the comparative totals at the Feb. 17 session: 248 absentee ballots cast so far this year versus 714 in the comparable period in 2022. Davis also offered an overall turnout estimate, saying, “they are expecting about a 15% to 17% voter turnout.”

Voters will decide the mayoralty and multiple City Council seats, with local officials pointing to roads and public safety as key issues on the ballot. Candidates listed for mayor include Zach Darden, Aleitress Owens-Smith, Alexandria Piland, Paul Wymer, Corrine Rios, and Michael Meek.

At the same Feb. 17 Governing Body work session, Rio Rancho Fire and Rescue Deputy Chief Jake Bailey presented updates on Fire Stations 3 and 8. City staff have been relaying operational and facility updates to the governing body while early voting proceeds across neighborhood sites.

The last day for early voting is Feb. 28; voters who need official hours or confirmation of sites should contact the City Clerk’s Office. Election Day is March 3.