Hello fellow political junkies!

As we draw closer to Election Day on Nov. 5, one of the parts of the process that people talk about but rarely fully understood is the Electoral College.

Each state gets the same amount of electors as it has in its congressional delegation, which means New Mexico has five electors (equal to the state’s two Senators and three U.S. representatives).

The state’s political parties choose that state’s electors.

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The state Republican Party Chairman Steve Pearce selects the Republican Party electors who are then confirmed by the State Republican Executive Committee.

The Republican electors for the 2024 presidential election are Eric Coll, James Townsend, Robert Tso, Debbie Weh-Maestas, Neil Hise and alternate Brad Cates.

The electors were chosen by the Republican Party of New Mexico during its quadrennial convention in April.

The New Mexico Democratic Party electors were selected by Party Chairwoman Jessica Valasquez and ratified by the Party delegates at the Party’s Post-Primary Convention in June.

The Democratic electors for the 2024 presidential elections are Daniel Diaz, Patricia Gaston, Harold “Spike” Murphree, Julie Rochman and Aleta “Tweety” Suazo.

The electors can vote as themselves in the November general election and then as electors representing the state when they meet in December, according to the National Archives.

As to how they are allowed to vote, electors are not federally required to vote according to the popular vote in their states but some states, like New Mexico, have laws that direct the electors to vote according to the state’s vote results. 

Candidates need at least 270 electoral votes to become the president-elect.

It is possible for a candidate to win the popular vote but lose the electoral vote. It has happened in 2000, 2016 and three times in the 19th century.

Even rarer is when no candidate gets enough electoral votes which happened in 1800 and 1824. If this were to happen, the U.S. House of Representatives would choose the president. 

News & Brews: Project 2025

Want to know more about Project 2025 and what it could mean to you and yours? Join the NM Political Report for our next News & Brews live panel discussion at 5:30 p.m. on Sept. 26 at Boxcar, 133 W. Water St. in Santa Fe. We will discuss Project 2025, including what it is and what it could mean for New Mexico.  Get your ticket here.

The NM Political Report published a series of stories about Project 2025 last week including how it could affect climate issues including Chaco Canyon by our environment reporter Hannah Grover, how it could affect LGBTQ rights and could ban abortion by our reproductive justice reporter Susan Dunlap and how it could affect voting rights by me.

More NM election info

New Mexico early/absentee voting begins on Oct. 8.

The New Mexico Secretary of State’s Office posted a list of bond questions and constitutional amendments that will appear on statewide ballots. 

These can be seen here. For more information about what will appear on your local ballot contact your local county clerk’s office which can also help you check on or update your voter registration, a process that can also be done online at NMVote.org. 

To see who the candidates are please visit the New Mexico Secretary of State’s 2024 General Election Contest/Candidate List.

The Election Results 2024 will be posted to the New Mexico Secretary of State’s Office website after polls close at 7 p.m. on Nov. 5. It currently lists the 2024 primary results.

Know your rights as a voter by reading the Voter Bill of Rights.

Upcoming interim committee meetings

Interim Legislative Revenue Stabilization and Tax Policy Committee will meet Sept. 23-24 in Room 307 at the State Capitol.

Interim Legislative Health and Human Services Committee will meet Sept. 23-25 at Western New Mexico University J. Cloyd Miller Library 1000 West College Avenue in Silver City.

Interim Legislative Transportation Infrastructure Revenue Subcommittee will meet Sept. 25 at the  Richard R. Barr (RB) Hall, Room 105 Central New Mexico Community College-Montoya Campus 4700 Morris Street NE in Albuquerque.

 Mortgage Finance Authority Act Oversight Committee will meet Sept. 26 at Central New Mexico Community College WORKforce Training Center, Room 103 5600 Eagle Rock Avenue NE in Albuquerque.

Interim Legislative Science, Technology and Telecommunications Committee will meet Sept. 30-Oct. 1 at  Science and Technology Park Rotunda 801 University Boulevard SE in Albuquerque.

Interim Legislative Investments and Pensions Oversight Committee will meet on Oct. 1 in Room 307 at the State Capitol.

For more information about interim committee meetings, visit nmlegis.gov and click the Committee’s tab at the top of the screen.

Tips, subscriptions and more

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This is one of several newsletters produced by NM Political Report, check them out here. 

–Nicole Maxwell