All-mail bond election doubles turnout so far

CLOVIS — With just under two weeks to go, the all-mail bond election for Clovis Municipal Schools has more than doubled the turnout of the election that preceded it.

The election is being held by mail, with ballots due to the Curry County Clerk’s Office by mail or in person 7 p.m. Feb. 16. Results will be reported later that evening.

It is the district’s first such election since 2019 changes to election law moved such elections to mail. The Portales and Texico school districts have previously held successful bond elections through the process, and there are two such elections in Roosevelt County ongoing for the Portales and Floyd school districts.

A CMS release said that as of Thursday, the clerk’s office had received 3,125 ballots out of the 21,303 mailed to registered voters within the district. That’s a voter turnout of 14.7% so far.

According to the Curry County Clerk’s office, voter turnout was 6.4% for the last Clovis school bond election in 2017. However, that election also featured two board member elections, with one race contested. Both tax measures overwhelmingly passed in 2017, with a tax levy passing 1,009-316 and a general obligation bond passing 1,149-215.

The ballot includes a question on renewing $10 million in general obligation bonds question and public school capital improvements act tax. Passage of both questions would not change property tax rates.

The funds would go towards renovations at Barry Elementary, building upgrades at the Clovis High agricultural farm, parking lot improvements at Yucca Middle School, security fencing at Gattis Middle School and roof and HVAC replacements at CHS, Sandia Elementary, the Student Support Center and the iAcademy at Lincoln Jackson. District-wide expenditures would include maintenance and items including student Chromebooks, classroom software and wi-fi routers.