“Every person whether he is a bum or dumb it doesn't matter but you have to get up and exercise the right of vote so that you can save your own country and your own self from disaster. And that applies to those who are political and who are non-political equally.” ~Yogi Bhajan, January 8, 1980

NM POLITICAL SCENE: THE BASICS

Absentee Ballot Application

Sikh Community in NM Politics

Hacienda de Guru Ram Das Ashram, a non-profit religious organization, is officially neutral in all partisan politics. That said, the Siri Singh Sahib Yogi Bhajan was well-known, loved and respected in Federal, State and local political circles, and he supported community participation in political events large and small, local to presidential. During any election cycle, he usually reminded us to vote! For many years, a member of our Ashram served as the Reader in the House during the Legislative session. Additionally, our community annually hosts a Legislative luncheon at the start of the session. So we do not have to be shy about political participation.

All politics is local. Your vote matters.

Northern NM is Still Blue

FYI: Northern NM is heavily Democratic. So in an election year in Rio Arriba, Taos, and Santa Fe Counties, there is often no Republican candidate on a ballot for local slots such as State representative, Probate Judge, County Commissioner and the like.

Often, only candidates from a single party vie for some state or local offices.

This means to have a say, you must vote in the June 4, 2024 primary.

Voting in NM Primary

The next primary election  will be June 4, 2024. You must be registered as a Democrat, Republican or Libertarian in order to vote in the primary. (This party restriction has been contested in NM Courts, and the contenders lost.) A lot of us would rather be registered Independent (officially known as “Decline to State”). But then we lose any opportunity to influence who is on the  November general election ballot because Independents are not allowed to vote in the primary (nor can members of small parties that aren’t one of the major parties mentioned above). In the case of many local offices in Northern NM, the winner is often determined in the primary, meaning s/he runs unopposed in the November general election.

So this is the trade-off of being registered with a major political party, or not.

NM Elected Office Holders – Who Represents What

U.S. Congressional Delegation

If you live in Northern NM (Española Valley, Santa Fe, Taos, Rio Arriba County, Los Alamos) in Congressional District 3, your current U.S. Representative is Teresa Leger Fernandez (D). If you live in the Albuquerque area in Congressional District 1, Michelle Garcia Holmes (D) is your Representative.

Our U.S. Senators are Martin Heinrich (D) and Rep. Ben Ray Luján (D).

NM Governor, State Legislature

Democrat Michelle Grisham Lujan is Governor is the governor in New Mexico. The Lieutenant Governor is Howie Morales.  The NM State Legislature meets at the State Capitol in Santa Fe from mid-January to mid-March in odd years; these are general session. In even years, the Legislature meets from mid-January to mid-February for budget bills mainly.

Democrats are the majority in the State Senate. Democrats are the majority in the State House of Representatives in 2022. Most of our Sangat happen to have Democratic State Senators and Representatives. Andrea Romero (D) is the State Representative for the Ashram area. Leo Jaramillo is the State Senator for most all our Sangat in the Espanola Valley. Otherwise, to find your State Senator or Representative, visit the NM Legislature.

Voter Registration

Most of our Sangat are in four counties: Santa Fe (includes our Ashram in Sombrillo), Rio Arriba, Taos, and Bernalillo (includes Albuquerque). The NM Secretary of State's office has a wealth of information on voter registration and more. You'll also find your County Clerk's contact information. If you are not already registered to vote, or have moved your residence since the last election and need to update your registration, start at the County Clerk's office for your county. Check your voter’s registration.

Española is in two counties: Santa Fe and Rio Arriba. If you do not know which County your home is in, start at the Secretary of State's office, and they'll let you know, based on your physical address.

For Española residents, the Rio Arriba County Clerk's office is on Industrial Park Road past the Española Post Office. The closest Santa Fe County Clerk's office is in Pojoaque in the Pojoaque Pueblo Plaza.

LINKS:

Register to vote or update your registration at the NM Secretary of State's office.

• NM State Government
• NM State Legislature     
• NM Democratic Party
• NM Republican Party   
• NM Green Party  
• NM Libertarian Party

Exercise your democratic rights and your responsibility as a citizen. Vote!
Sat Nam.