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ELECTIONS
A look at Rio Rancho's election process
Published
RIO RANCHO — Rio Rancho City Clerk Noel Davis, who became city clerk in April 2024, said she has been looking forward to overseeing the municipal election ever since she took office.
"It's a lot of work. It's a little overwhelming, but I am very excited," Davis said.
The city of Rio Rancho runs its own municipal election, which occurs on the first Tuesday in March of even-numbered years, established by the Local Election Act of 2018, she said. That work, fulfilled by Davis and her staff, runs the gamut from picking polling locations to working ballot tabulators. Davis anticipates the cost of the election will be approximately $500,000.
Her comments come following a year that included the Rio Rancho Governing Body's 3-3 deadlock on an ordinance that would have moved local elections to November of odd-numbered years and extended their terms of office. City officials cited low voter turnout and the cost of holding the elections as reasons to pass the ordinance, which faced vocal opposition from residents.
Following consideration of the controversial measure, city officials buckled down and went on with business as usual, including designated polling locations. They were approved by the governing body in July but revised in October due to issues locating commercial spaces, Davis said.
“Not a lot of commercial locations were willing to do short-term leases with the city,” she said, “and it was expensive.”
The matter came before the governing body Jan. 8, following the Sandoval County Commission’s action dividing and adjusting precinct boundaries to meet requirements, Davis said. The New Mexico Secretary of State’s office then approved those boundaries. Davis could not reassign precincts and polling locations before the commission and secretary's office fulfilled their duties. The governing body unanimously approved the resolution.
Absentee ballots will be mailed beginning on Feb. 3, according to the 2026 Municipal Officer Election Candidate Guide. The last day to request an absentee ballot is Feb. 17, the guide said. Absentee ballots must be returned by 7 p.m. to any polling location or to the City Clerk’s Office, according to the guide.
The first day of early voting is scheduled to take place at the Broadmoor Senior Center, 3241 Broadmoor Blvd. NE, Rio Rancho. Expanded early voting begins Feb. 14, running through Feb. 28, and includes four other locations.
The senior center will be open for early voting from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday until Feb. 27, and 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 14, 21 and 28.
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Other early voting locations include Loma Colorado Library, 755 Loma Colorado Blvd.; Sabana Grande Recreation Center, 4114 Sabana Grande Ave.; The Hub @ Enchanted Hills, 7845 Enchanted Hills Blvd.; and 2345 Southern Blvd., Suite C2. Hours for all locations are 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday.
There are 14 voting locations on March 3, open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. These include the Broadmoor Senior Center, Loma Colorado Library, The Hub, Sabana Grande Recreation Center; Southern Boulevard; Cabezon Community Center, 2307 Cabezon Blvd.; Cielo Azul Elementary School, 3804 Shiloh Road; Puesta del Sol Elementary School, 450 Southern Blvd.; Haynes Community Center, 2006 Grande Blvd. SE; Ester Bone Library, 950 Pinetree Road SE; Star Heights Recreation Center, 800 Polaris Blvd.; Rio Rancho Middle School, 1600 Loma Colorado Blvd.; Joe Harris Elementary School, 2100 10th St.; Colinas del Norte Elementary School, 1001 Night Sky Ave.
The city is looking to hire 85-95 poll workers for Election Day, Davis said.
“We also use the schools (as polling locations), so we have to deploy additional people,” she said.
If no candidate wins a majority, a run-off election would take place April 14, according to the guide.
If there is no runoff, Davis will canvass the election results between March 4 and 13, the guide said.
Candidates could take their oaths of office as soon as April 1, according to the guide.
