Albuquerque sees high turnout for municipal election

Nearly 150,000 people turned out to vote in Albuquerque’s local election Tuesday.

Depending on where they cast their vote, residents either found long lines — with waits stretching over an hour — or a waltz straight to the ballot box.

Voters cast their choice for Albuquerque mayor, and several seats on the City Council and Albuquerque Public Schools Board of Education, among other races.

Bernalillo County officials said 149,854 people voted, a 34% turnout, in the municipal election — 67,260 on Tuesday — with all but one poll site reporting as of Tuesday at 10 p.m. Those numbers dwarf the prior municipal election in 2021, when around 135,000 people voted, around 50,000 on election day.

Officials said absentee votes increased this municipal election, with more than 20,000 as opposed to 17,000 in 2021. Early voting decreased this year, officials said, with 62,000 votes cast early compared with around 68,000 in 2021.

For some waiting in line to vote at the University of New Mexico on Tuesday afternoon, the decision came down to the wire.

UNM student Jared Smith, who was voting in Albuquerque for the first time, stood with his laptop open doing research as he got closer. He said he saw homelessness as the key issue in this election.

“If a politician is saying, ‘I’m going to take care of this problem immediately’ — I’m definitely not voting for them because it’s a very complex issue,” Smith said of his voting calculus.

The line to vote started outside the UNM polling center but wrapped through the halls and around staircases. In line with Smith were other students with backpacks, hospital staff in scrubs and everyday residents.

Some of those waiting said they got in line firmly decided on their candidates.

Another first-time Albuquerque voter was Fernando Machado-Stredel, a UNM student who has been a citizen for three years. For him, voting isn’t something to be taken for granted.

“It’s important, everyone should do it,” Machado-Stredel said.

Standing beside him, another UNM student, Abi Granath, said that tracing endorsements and campaign contributions helped her make her decision.

“Follow the money, right?” Granath said.

In Northeast Albuquerque, approximately 70 people waited to vote outside of the polling location in the Daskalos Center. Parking was hard to find in the crowded lot, but the line moved at a steady pace.

Ronn Twofeather said he got through it in 15 minutes. The 74-year-old said he’s been voting since he was 18.

“It gives me the right to complain,” Twofeather said.

The races and questions on this year’s ballot were pretty straightforward, he said. While the field in the mayoral race was crowded, Twofeather stuck with incumbent Mayor Tim Keller.

“He’s doing the best he can, and I don’t think anyone else could do better,” he said.

Alicia Peterson also cast a ballot for Keller.

“I think he’s in a challenging position,” she said.

To Peterson, it seems like Albuquerque feels the effects of issues like affordable housing and homelessness before the rest of the country. She’s particularly concerned by the plight of homeless veterans and supports building more affordable housing, tiny homes and focusing on housing families.

Tamara Douglas also voted because, “I figure I can’t complain about it if I’m not out voting.”

Instead of Keller, Douglas said she cast a ballot for challenger Alex Uballez, because she’s ready for a new generation at the city’s helm.

“I think everything he had to say, I could relate to,” Douglas said.