近距离内射合集

SANTA FE 鈥� If the first three days of early voting are any indication, it might take a while for New Mexico independents to warm up to the state鈥檚 new semi-open primary system.

Less than 10% of the 6,950 voters who cast a ballot via early or absentee voting in the first days of this year鈥檚 primary election cycle were independents 鈥� even though such voters make up of the state鈥檚 total voter rolls.

Since early voting began Tuesday, Democrats were voting at a higher clip than either Republicans or independents, according to data released by Secretary of State Maggie Toulouse Oliver鈥檚 office.

That trend might not be totally surprising, as voters who cast their ballots early tend to be more partisan, said longtime New Mexico political observer Brian Sanderoff.

The June 2 primary election is the first in state history in which independent voters are able to cast a ballot without having to select a major party affiliation. Specifically, such voters can request either a Republican or Democratic ballot and will not be bound by their decision in future elections.

The data released Friday by the Secretary of State鈥檚 Office did not provide a breakdown of which major party鈥檚 ballot 鈥� either Democrat or Republican 鈥� the 664 independent voters who have voted so far selected.

But Deputy Secretary of State Sharon Pino said Friday a more detailed report on independent voters could be released next week.

The semi-open primary system, which was signed into law last year by Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham, could eventually boost turnout rates in a state in which only 25.2% of registered voters cast a ballot in New Mexico鈥檚 2022 primary election. The turnout rate was even lower two years ago.

However, some candidates have said many independent voters are still unaware of the change in law, despite the efforts of advocacy groups to raise awareness.

鈥淚 run into independents and they have no idea they can vote in the upcoming election,鈥� said Republican gubernatorial candidate Doug Turner during a Friday debate hosted by the Journal.

The number of independent voters, or those who decline to state a party affiliation, has steadily increased in New Mexico since 1990. Their ranks have grown at an even faster rate since the state implemented automatic voter registration last summer.

As of the end of April, there were more than 378,000 independent voters registered across New Mexico 鈥� or roughly 26% of the state鈥檚 total voting population, according to Secretary of State鈥檚 Office data.

In all, there were more than 1.4 million voters registered in New Mexico as of last month, with Democrats making up 40.3% of the total voters and Republicans making up about 31.2% of the voting base. Voters affiliated with minor parties made up the rest.

All statewide offices are up for election this year in New Mexico, along with the state鈥檚 three congressional districts, some county-level seats and all 70 state House seats.

The open contest to pick New Mexico鈥檚 next governor is among the races that have drawn competitive primaries, as Lujan Grisham is constitutionally barred from seeking a third consecutive term and will step down at year鈥檚 end.

Dan Boyd covers state government and politics for the Journal in Santa Fe. Follow him on X at or reach him via email at dboyd@abqjournal.com.