Overview
- KOAT reported more than 133,000 ballots cast by Tuesday afternoon, exceeding the roughly 120,000 votes in the 2021 Albuquerque mayoral contest.
- Earlier in the day, the county clerk projected turnout around 24%—a little over 100,000 voters—suggesting initial expectations understated Election Day voting.
- Clerk Michelle Kavanaugh said absentee ballots increased this cycle while early in-person voting fell by about 6,000.
- Reporters observed steady lines at polling places; voters can call 243-VOTE for sites with shorter waits, and anyone in line by 7 p.m. will be allowed to vote.
- Voters interviewed highlighted affordable housing, homelessness, and safety as priority issues, and KOAT’s analyst said Democrats were voting at a higher rate than Republicans.