League of Women Voters of New Mexico

100th Celebration

February 6, 2020:

The 100th Anniversary celebration at the Roundhouse was packed, with speeches by the Governor and Secretary of State, proclamations by the House and Senate, cake and lemonade. A good time was had by all.

Many local Leagues still have celebrations planned for later in the year; check your local League's website.

LWVNM Proposed SNF Storage Advocacy Statement

December 11, 2019:

LWVNM has been studying the proposed storage of Spent Nuclear Fuel (SNF) from the 99 domestic commercial nuclear reactors in two proposed Consolidated Interim Storage Facilities (CISF) in Southeast NM and the TX/NM border since 2017.

The study has produced a Proposed SNF Storage Advocacy Statement which was approved by the LWVNM Board in its November meeting, and has been submitted to LWVUS for approval.

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

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.

Read more: LWVNM Elects Hannah Burling as New State President.

For older news items, see the LWVNM News Archive.