Tuesday is Election Day for some Rio Rancho voters

Tuesday is once again Election Day for some Rio Rancho residents.

The city of Rio Rancho is holding a runoff election for Districts 1 and 6 city councilors since no candidate in the March 5 election received a majority of the votes cast, as required by the city’s charter.

Early voting for registered Rio Rancho residents in Districts 1 and 6 was available from March 27 to April 6. Election Day voting is 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. April 9 Absentee ballots can be turned in to the clerk’s office until 7 p.m.

There are three voting locations for residents in Districts 1 and District 6:

• Broadmoor Senior Center (Clerk's Annex), 3241 Broadmoor Blvd. NE

• Plaza @ Unser Marketplace, 701 Unser Blvd. SE, Unit A12

• Rio West Business Center, 103 Rio Rancho Blvd. SE, Suite B1

The city of Rio Rancho municipal election ended on March 5 with incumbent Paul Wymer retaining his seat in District 4.

The District 1 candidates are incumbent Jim Owen and Deborah Dapson. In District 6, Edward Paulsgrove faces incumbent Nicole List.

City Clerk Rebecca Martinez said Monday turnout for early and absentee voting was 4%, which is about 1,000 voters out of the 25,000 eligible voters across the two districts.

“Typically for a runoff election, we see anywhere between 7 and 11% turnout,” Martinez said. “So we're hoping that voters take the opportunity to come and help elect their city council representative. As you know, the local elections are very, very important. These are the elected offices that really set the policy in the community that people live in. So as it relates to residents. You know, these folks contemplate things very close and immediate and tangible to them such as roads, you know, getting fixed, such as community centers, where a park is going to be all of that good stuff, how much money is going to be spent on public safety. So it's very, very important.”