Residents urged to help at polls

The New Mexico Secretary of State’s Office urges residents to help their communities, contribute to democracy and make a few extra dollars by becoming a poll worker for the 2020 General Election.

County Clerks across the state need poll workers to serve a variety of roles on or before Election Day. The COVID-19 crisis has resulted in a critical need for poll workers, as most traditional poll workers are over age 61 and more susceptible to complications from the virus.

The Secretary of State’s Office is collecting contact information from anyone interested in becoming a poll worker for the 2020 General Election. The information submitted will be forwarded to the appropriate County Clerk, and they will follow up.

Anyone interested in becoming a poll worker can submit their information at https://tinyurl.com/y3ntlch7.

To become a poll worker you must:

• Be registered to vote in your county (Not registered? It takes only a few minutes at nmvote.org);

• Attend a training;

• Take an oath of office;

• Not be a candidate, law enforcement officer or close relative of a candidate on the ballot in the 2020 General Election (spouse, parent, child, sibling or in-law);

• Have basic computer skills, a mobile phone and an email address.

Compensation for Election Day poll workers in New Mexico is set by state law. Workers are compensated at no less than the federal hourly minimum wage of $7.25 an hour and not to exceed $200 for the day. County clerks set the wage for workers who assist during early voting.

Anyone interested in working the polls for the General Election can either contact the Quay County Clerk directly at (575) 461-0510 or fill out a form on the Secretary of State’s website at https://tinyurl.com/y3ntlch7.

Absentee ballot requests also can be made online through the Secretary of State at https://tinyurl.com/sdkdwg4. Oct. 20 is the deadline to request an absentee ballot. Voters should mail their completed absentee ballot back no later than Oct. 27 to ensure it arrives to their county clerk before 7 p.m. Nov. 3.

In-person early voting locations open in each county beginning Oct. 17 and continues through Oct. 31. Election Day is Nov. 3, with in-person polling locations open in each county from 7 a.m. To 7 p.m.