League of Women Voters of New Mexico

What we do

The League of Women Voters has worked since 1920 to improve local, state and national government and strengthen our communities through citizen education and action.

The League of Women Voters is nonpartisan; it never supports or opposes candidates or political parties. The League does take action on issues of importance to its members and the community, after studying them in depth.

Membership is open to all residents of the United States, both women and men, who are 16 years or older. Find out more.

A 100-Year Minute

IF YOU’RE A US CITIZEN, YOU CAN VOTE. WELL, MAYBE.

We’re celebrating the 100^th anniversary of the passage of the 19^th Amendment this year. It was an important milestone in our history. Women across the country were finally allowed to vote.

Having a vote means having a voice, having a say, being able to influence the government which affects your life. It’s extremely important.

Today, the Voting Rights Act of 1965 which strengthened the voting rights of minorities in every state has been weakened, and states are passing new voting requirements to make it harder for minorities to vote. US Senator Udall, NM, has introduced the Native American Voting Rights Act of 2019 to address many of the voting barriers facing this population.

“Native Americans have unequal opportunities to register to vote because of the absence of in-person registration opportunities on reservations. Election officials do not accept tribal identification cards under strict voter ID laws, or they reject registration applications from Native Americans lacking a physical address. Those who are able to register are confronted by great distances to off-reservation voting locations, often in places like sheriff’s offices where they do not feel welcome.

The few polling places located on reservations may be closed for pretextual reasons. In places where mail-in voting occurs, Native voters may not have the financial means to pay the poll tax in the form of postage to return their ballot, or may be unable to access ballot drop-off sites located several hours away off-reservation. Limited-English proficient Native voters frequently are denied access to voting information that voters receive in English, especially before Election Day.” *

*(source: press release from LWVUS and other civil rights organizations, March 11, 2019)

2020 Census

The 2020 Census is of critical importance to New Mexico. We'll be working hard to get every New Mexican counted. Read about it on our 2020 Census page.

Logo of La Palabra

Latest La Palabra

The Summer 2019 La Palabra (PDF, 1.1 Mb) newsletter is out.

Highlights: Introduction from new President Hannah Burling; LWVNM Leadership Changes; Program Outcomes and Directions to the Board from the State Convention; New Study of Judicial Qualifications/Selection Process; Report on National LWVUS Council; Suffrage Centennial:National Recognition for Nina Otero Warren, Suffragist and League Leader; LWVUS on the Broadway Stage; Changes for Voter Registrars; Committee Reports; Local League News.

Keep up to date by reading La Palabra!

For issues of La Palabra dating back to 2005, see the Newsletters page.

Recent LWVNM News

New Redistricting Project

August 1, 2019:

The LWVNM has received a generous grant grant to lead an effort to ensure fair and transparent redistricting following the 2020 census. As part of that effort we have created a separate web site. Please visit fairdistrictsnm.org. The site is under development but already has links to valuable resources on redistricting.

NM should work now to implement redistricting reform

July 30, 2019:

Guest column in the Albuquerque Journal by Hannah Burling, President, LWVNM: NM should work now to implement redistricting reform.

SCOTUS Decisions on Census and Gerrymandering

June 28, 2019:

The LWVNM is pleased that the Supreme Court has not approved the addition of a citizenship question to the 2020 Census. Instead, they sent the issue back to the Department of Commerce, leaving the final decision up in the air. We hope that reason prevails and the question will not be added to the census. It would result in a serious undercount in New Mexico, costing the state $3,700 for every resident who goes uncounted, potentially $780 million over ten years. We hope the courts and the administration do the right thing.

The LWVNM is disappointed that in today's ruling on fair redistricting the U.S. Supreme Court did not take the opportunity to set guidelines for fair redistricting in all the states. As Justice Kagan stated in her dissent, "the partisan gerrymanders here debased and dishonored our democracy, turning upside-down the core American idea that all governmental power derives from the people".

Despite the Supreme Court ruling, New Mexico policymakers still have the opportunity to follow the other 21 states that have acted to ensure that constituents get to choose their legislators rather than legislators choosing their constituents.

More details in the Press Release: LWVNM on the SCOTUS Decisions on Census and Gerrymandering.

Video: Land Commissioner Stephanie Garcia Richard Speaks at LWVNM Convention Banquet

May 29, 2019:

The LWVNM convention, held in May in Los Alamos, was a great success. Besides talks by Sara Scott, Christine Chandler, and Liz Bander, our LWVUS liaison, we were treated to a half-hour talk by our own Stephanie Garcia Richard, the new State Land Commissioner, at our banquet. She speaks eloquently about the wins and losses that have occurred since her election and what she hopes for the future. Enjoy her talk and the questions: Stephanie Garcia Richard Speaks at LWVNM Convention Banquet.

LWVNM Elects Hannah Burling as New State President

[Outgoing LWVNM President Judy Williams welcomes new Presiden Hannah Burling] May 25, 2019:

At the League's biennial convention, held in Los Alamos, Hannah Burling of Santa Fe has been elected to a two-year term as president of the LWVNM. The convention also approved a position on the transfer of federal public lands after a two-year study on the subject, and approved a study on the selection of New Mexico judges in limited jurisdiction courts.

Election reform is essential for future of democracy

April 20, 2019:

The League of Women Voters of New Mexico thanks Sen. Tom Udall, D-N.M., for introducing the For the People Act in the U.S. Senate. The League believes the American people need a democracy that works for them, not for special and entrenched interests.

Read the details: Election reform is essential for future of democracy.

LWVNM Deplores Gutting Major Funding Bill

March 17, 2019:

The League of Women Voters of New Mexico deplores the New Mexico Senate action that gutted HB6. It is time for New Mexico to generate the revenues needed to fund essential services, including early childhood and those revenues should come from those who can most afford it.

The version of the bill passed by the New Mexico House would have set New Mexico on the path to a broader, more reliable source of funding. But the New Mexico Senate removed much of the revenue generation and eliminated almost all of the fairness features of the House version.

More details: LWVNM Deplores Gutting the Major Funding Bill.