Voting set to outpace previous numbers

While it appears Mother Nature is going to have an impact early this week, it’s apparent this year’s early voters will easily outpace those from the 2016 presidential election in Curry and Roosevelt counties.

Roosevelt County has already seen more early voters in 2020 than it had in all of 2016. Curry County will likely see the same, maybe as early as today.

Monday was a light day for early voting in both counties with inclement weather concerns that were anticipated to continue over the next few days.

In Roosevelt County, the alternative early voting site held at the Jake Lopez Community Center was closed Tuesday and Wednesday. Early voting would continue, but only at the Roosevelt County Clerk’s Office during those two days.

As of Tuesday morning, Curry County had not taken similar measures with its alternate voting site at the Youth Recreation Building.

“We are continuing to follow the forecast and keeping in touch with Emergency Manager Dan Heerding,” Curry County Clerk Annie Hogland said. “As of right now, no, but it could (close). The administrative complex will remain open for early voting (regardless of the YRB status).”

Through Monday in Curry County:

• The county had seen 6,907 early in-person votes. Of those votes, 5,117 were at the clerk’s office and 1,790 at the YRB.

• In 2016, the county saw a total of 7,290 early votes — 3,635 at the clerk’s office and 3,645 at the North Plains Mall. Hogland said it’s unusual but not unprecedented for the alternate early voting site to outpace the clerk’s office.

• According to a report from the New Mexico Secretary of State’s Office, Curry County has received 2,591 absentee ballots via mail or drop box. The county had 592 absentee ballots in 2016.

Through Monday in Roosvelt County:

• The county had seen 3,320 early in-person votes through Monday. Of those votes, 2,985 were at the clerk’s office and 335 at the Lopez Building.

• In 2016, the county saw a total of 1,896 early votes. Interim County Clerk Nath Baca said she did not have a breakdown of the voting sites.

• According to a report from the New Mexico Secretary of State’s Office, Curry County has received 978 absentee ballots via mail or drop box. The county had 296 absentee ballots in 2016.

Early voting runs through Saturday. Election Day will be 7 a.m.-7 p.m. Tuesday.

Curry County Election Day voting locations are Colonial Park Golf Course, the Youth Recreation Building, Roy Walker Community Center, Farmers Electric Cooperative in Clovis, the Curry County Road Department road barn, the Pleasant Hill Fire Department, the Grady Senior Citizens Center, Melrose City Hall and the Texico Community Building.

Roosevelt County Election Day voting locations are the Jake Lopez Community Center, the Portales Memorial Building, the Dora Senior Center, the Elida Community Center and the Floyd Community Center.