City, county disconnect could mean two initiatives don’t make ballot

Because of a disagreement between the Albuquerque City Council and Bernalillo County Commission, it’s not clear which ballot initiative voters will get to vote on—or if either will even be on the ballot. During a Bernalillo County Commission meeting last week, commissioners did not discuss either of two recent ballot initiatives sent to them by the Albuquerque City Council. In fact, neither even appeared on the agenda. One initiative, prompted by a successful petition drive, would require some employers to provide sick leave to employees. The other would increase public campaign finance dollars to Albuquerque mayoral candidates.

Low turnout, no surprises in ABQ elections

Albuquerque’s election on Tuesday featured extremely low turnout and even fewer surprises with nearly all ballots counted. The three most prominent races went about how observers had expected beforehand. The Democrat won the Democratic-leaning city council seat and the incumbent Republican won the Republican-leaning city council seat with all 53 vote centers reporting. Related: See our election night liveblog. The one-eighth of one cent gross receipts tax increase for upkeep and new projects at the BioPark also cruised to victory with over 56 percent of the vote.

Albuquerque election liveblog

Election day in Albuquerque! Voters throughout Albuquerque will decide the makeup of the city council, whether a gross receipts tax increase to aid the BioPark should happen and a number of bond questions and city charter issues. New Mexico Political Report will be here throughout the night—and throughout the city—to give you the latest results on the races. Check in here periodically and at 7:00 p.m., the pace will pick up. The newest posts will be up top, the oldest ones at the bottom.

ABQ voters to decide city council makeup, BioPark funding

There’s an election tomorrow in New Mexico’s biggest city. Voters who did not vote early or absentee will head to the polls in what is expected to be a light-turnout election, although one that will decide the makeup of the city council and a tax to help fund improvements at Albuquerque’s BioPark. Also on the ballot are changes to the city charter and a number of bond questions to fund infrastructure, parks and more. Voters can cast their ballots at any voting location; it doesn’t have to be your local precinct. The University of New Mexico even has a map that tells you the length of waits at each location if you want to stop off at lunch or take off early from work to vote.