Get Out the Vote
Ask yourself, “What do I do best?”
Whatever your natural talents or abilities, we can use them.
That’s how you can best help the DPBC!
If you need some ideas to get you started, consider helping in these ways…
Voter Registration
The Democratic Party of Bernalillo County is actively working on a program to register voters prior to the Nov 5th Election. If you are a Voter Registration Agent (VRA), you can sign up now to participate at these locations.
Soon we will inaugurate a program to register high school students who will be 18 in time for the election. School starts in mid-August and our goal is to focus on schools across the city during September. Locations will be added to the list as they develop.
We also need drivers at the State Fair. If you are not a VRA or know someone who wants to help, please have them sign up for a shift, which is at the end of the State Fair listing.
If you are a VRA and want to be added to our list of contacts and receive updated information, contact Donna Lockner at donnalockner@gmail.com
To become trained and certified as a VRA, go here.
Additional ways to participate in this effort:
- Find out who may want to vote by absentee ballot, or who may need help getting to the polls and provide transportation.
- Canvass or call homes with no registered voters and help them get registered. This builds relationships and provides a valued service to your community.
- Monitor county registration rolls to ensure registered voters are listed, and follow up with the county clerk if they are not.
Citizen Participation
- Write Resolutions that could become “planks” – opinions and viewpoints on specific issues – that become part of the NM State Party platform.
- Call your Senator or Representative about your issues and concerns to help influence their vote.
- US. Capitol Switchboard: (202) 224-3121
- NM Legislature (during session only) 505-983-4300.
- Write a letter to the editor. The editorial page is the second most widely read section of the paper. The Albuquerque Journal reaches a large audience, so let your voice be heard!
- Call a radio show. These phone calls reach thousands or millions of people!
- Share with your neighbors the alternatives to corporate news sources, which convey more of the facts and are not slanted to the right, such as:
- Drive others and car pool to Precinct meetings.
- Educate others on the Democratic Platform.
Prepare for the Next Election
- Get trained as a poll watcher, poll worker, or Precinct Election Judge.
- Help with outreach to local representatives. Arrange a town hall meeting to meet and question your State Legislative Representative or Senator, City Councilor, or County Commissioner.
Campaign
- Get further training as a Democratic activist by participating in the training available at: DemocracyforAmerica.com
- Consider being a Precinct or Ward Chair, or even run for office! Maybe you could be our next City Councilor, State Representative, or School Board member!
Canvass and Organize Your Precinct and Ward
- Be a canvasser. Start with door-to-door voter registration.
- Offer yard signs or bumper stickers when canvassing.
- Use the Votebuilder MiniVAN smart phone app and enter data after canvasses.
- Train other canvassers.
- Locate irregular voters. Work to convince them to vote in the upcoming election. Offer them absentee or early voting options.
- Find those who frequently vote in lower percentages, but overwhelmingly vote for Democrats when they do, such as women and younger voters.
- Be a Block Captain and keep in touch with your neighbors on the street. Help your Precinct’s Democrats find other volunteers, kindred souls, and update the voter database at Votebuilder.
- Organize Precinct events: BBQs, pot lucks, house parties, picnics, or service projects. These events bring people together where we can share common values, network, and engage infrequent voters.
- Set up contact lists for the precinct team, including phone numbers, addresses, and emails.
- Help with Precinct meetings: Plan a meeting agenda, develop discussion topics, notify people of meetings and events, write and publish the meeting minutes, or keep a Precinct journal to share. Also, you could research locations where Precinct or Ward meetings could be held, such as libraries or community centers.
- Build the Precinct plan with goals and monthly benchmarks.
- Start a fundraiser for your Precinct, the county Democratic Party, or for Democratic candidates. Recruit local business to donate raffle items for fundraisers.
- Set up and manage a Ward web site, Facebook page, Twitter, or Instagram account.
Voting in New Mexico
All U.S. citizens who are at least 18 years of age on election day can register to vote. To vote in an election, your registration must be received by the County Clerk at least 28 days before the election.
Your registration must be updated if you change your:
- Legal name (e.g., through marriage)
- Place of residence.
- Party affiliation. This may be changed at any time before the close of voter registration.
If you have a valid New Mexico ID and know your Social Security number, you can register or update your registration online.
Election Timeline
| Voting | Timeline | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Elections | ||
| ↖︎ Register or Change Voter Registration | ||
| Available | Now | |
| Closes | Oct-8 | |
| ---- | ||
| Absentee Ballot | ||
| ↖︎ Ballot Request | Now Available | |
| Last day to request a ballot | Oct-22 | |
| ---- | ||
| ↖︎ Early Voting | ||
| ↖︎ --- Return absentee ballot at the Clerks Annex | Begins | Oct-8 |
| ↖︎ --- In-person at 20 Convenience Centers | Expanded | Oct-19 |
| Ends | Nov-2 | |
| ---- | ||
| National Election Day | Nov-5 |