New Mexico Mercury

New Mexico Mercury

Voting in the ABQ City Election Requires Your Provide an ID

September 26, 2013

By James Burbank

When you go to vote in the upcoming municipal election, be sure to bring an ID with you. There is a lot of confusion out there about the procedure, but city elections require you bring a form of ID to the poll with you (driver’s license, student ID, credit card.)

Here’s how this came about. In 2005 Albuquerque citizens voted that voters must present ID to exercise their franchise. According to Amy Bailey, Republican Berry shill and city clerk who was none too glad to hear from this reporter, the city was sued for requiring an ID, but courts upheld this restriction because Albuquerque is a home-rule city, and, hence, can require ID to vote in a municipal election. Bernalillo County doesn’t require an ID. In fact, this restriction is totally out of synch with the rest of the state and most other municipalities, but it is still the law of the land in Albuquerque, so when you vote in the city election, be sure to bring an ID with you or you could be disenfranchised.

Here’s a link to the city’s Voter ID page.

This piece was written by:

James Burbank

James Burbank has written and published over 200 articles for regional and national publications such as Reuters International News Service, The World & I Magazine, National Catholic Reporter, Farmer’s Almanac, Los Angeles Herald Examiner, La Opinion, New Mexico Magazine, Albuquerque Journal, Albuquerque Tribune. He is author of Retirement New Mexico, the best selling book published by New Mexico Magazine Press, now in its third edition. He is also author of Vanishing Lobo: the Mexican Wolf in the Southwest, published by Johnson Books.

As a professional writing consultant, he has written and edited publications, video and radio scripts, annual reports, and investment information for a wide variety of corporate clients. A Lecturer II for the Department of English, Burbank has specialized in teaching technical writing and professional writing. His interests extend from composition and writing theory to environmental and nature writing. He has played a leadership role in developing and implementing the English Department’s teaching mentorship program.