I am writing today to announce the closure of the New Mexico Independent. After three and a half years of operation in New Mexico, the board of the American Independent News Network, has decided to shift publication of its news…
While environmental activists played their part yesterday during demonstrations at the capitol building, going so far as to dress up as solar panels and to sing the tune of “You Are My Sunshine,” their counterparts, the anti-cap-and-trade contingency who has…
Roughly one quarter of University of New Mexico students are unimpressed with the state’s flagship public school, according to a survey that questioned college students about their higher education experiences.
A bill that would have allowed people to register to vote at early voting sites and cast their ballot on the same day was left hanging late last night by a tie vote in the Senate Judiciary committee. It was subsequently voted down this morning by the House Voters and Elections Committee.
Steve Allen, Director of the good government group Common Cause, expressed disappointment to The Independent about the vote, and said there is still a lot of education needed on the barriers that exist to voting.
“For Common Cause and other good government groups, this legislation is all about expanding access to the ballot box,” he said. “Similar to a long line of measures taken down through the years, like getting rid of the poll tax, same day registration and voting would enable many more people to exercise their right to vote.”
Sen. Richard Martinez, D-Española, left the room before the vote on SB 161 occurred in the Senate Judiciary committee last night, which left ten Senators to vote on the bill. Sen. Bernadette Sanchez, D-Albuquerque, voted with the four Republicans on the committee against the bill. The five remaining Democrats voted in support of the bill, resulting in a tie.
The measure then failed this morning in the House Voters and Elections committee, with Rep. Danice Picraux, D-Albuquerque, and Rep. Debby Rodella, D-Espanola, voting against HB 123. Speaker of the House Ben Lujan left the room before the vote occurred. Otherwise, the breakdown was also along party lines, with Democrats in favor and Republicans against.
