Rio Rancho Adds Four Early Voting Sites for Mayoral Race

Rio Rancho officials expanded early voting for the March 3 municipal election by opening four additional locations on Saturday, Feb. 14, with early voting continuing through Feb. 28. The move supplements early voting that began at the Broadmoor Senior Center on Tuesday, Feb. 3, and is intended to make it easier for residents to vote on the mayoral contest, three city council seats, a municipal judge position, and three bond questions.

Broadmoor Senior Center, 3421 Broadmoor Blvd., has been the city’s primary early voting site since Feb. 3. Broadmoor is open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday until Feb. 27 and will be open 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturdays Feb. 14, Feb. 21 and Feb. 28. The four expanded locations that began operating Feb. 14 are Loma Colorado Library, 755 Loma Colorado Blvd.; Sabana Grande Recreation Center, 4114 Sabana Grande Ave.; The Hub @ Enchanted Hills, 7845 Enchanted Hills Blvd.; and a site near Southern Boulevard at 2345 Southern Blvd., Suite C2. Those expanded sites are open 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., Tuesday through Saturday, Feb. 14–28.

Voters will decide a six-candidate mayoral race and multiple local offices. The mayoral candidates are Zach Darden; Aleitress Owens-Smith; Alexandria Piland; Paul Wymer; Corrine Rios; and Michael Meek. The ballot also includes City Council seats for Districts 2, 3 and 5, a municipal judge position, and three general obligation bond questions. The bond questions include over $12 million for roads and infrastructure, over $4 million for public safety, and $1.2 million for community centers and similar projects.

City Clerk Noel Davis urged participation, noting the significance of local measures: "It's really important that the citizens of Rio Rancho get out to vote because we do have three bond questions, the mayor, three city council positions, and the judge. And it's the future of the city. So, it's super important." Davis also encouraged turnout in a city email: "Please come out to vote! Expanded early voting starts on Valentine’s Day, take your loved one out to vote at one of the five early voting locations throughout the City. Don’t procrastinate, vote early!"

Early activity at Broadmoor has been steady, with just under 350 voters in the first four days of early voting, and the senior center "has experienced no early voting issues since it opened Feb. 3," according to Davis. Rrobserver reported the city has a staff of six poll workers at the senior center, "one presiding judge, two judgers, two clerks and one clerk that does both clerk duties and same day voter registration, according to Davis." City turnout is projected at about 15% to 17%.

"Absentee ballots are also being sent out Tuesday." Election Day will feature 14 Voting Convenience Centers across Rio Rancho open 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on March 3. For election questions or to confirm hours and locations, contact the City of Rio Rancho at 3200 Civic Center Circle NE, Rio Rancho, NM 87144, or call 505-891-5000, Mon–Fri 8 a.m.–5 p.m.

Expanded early voting shortens lines and offers more scheduling options for busy households; with seats and bond finances on the line, residents should note the Feb. 28 deadline for in-person early votes and plan whether to vote early, on Election Day, or by absentee ballot.