Quay voters to receive absentee ballot application

Quay County voters should receive in their mailboxes this week an application for an absentee ballot to be used in the June 2 primary election.

The application will come from the New Mexico Secretary of State’s office. The New Mexico Supreme Court earlier this month ordered the agency to mail an absentee-ballot application to each registered voter in the state.

Early voting that runs from May 5 through May 30 and in-person voting during the primary election June 2 will continue to be in the county’s usual polling places.

The high court, county clerks and Secretary of State are encouraging voters to fill out and return the application in a postage-paid envelope so they can cast a mail-in absentee ballot in the safety of their homes during the coronavirus pandemic.

The deadline to register to vote and be eligible for the primary is approaching. Registration forms are available at the Quay County Clerk’s Office at 300 S. Third St. in Tucumcari and online at NMVote.org. The final day to become an eligible voter is May 5.

Anyone who will be 18 years old before the Nov. 3 general election is eligible to register and vote in the June 2 primary.

New Mexico requires voters to be registered with a major political party (Democrat, Libertarian, Republican) to cast a ballot in the primary. Those who chose no party or a minor party in their voter’s registration will not be able to participate in the primary unless it is officially changed with the county clerk before the May 5 deadline.

Early in-person voting will begin May 5 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday in the Quay County Courthouse. Requirements for social distancing will be enforced. The final day for early voting will be May 30, when the hours to vote will be from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.