#Rio Rancho Higher Education Tax

May 24, 2013

#Rio Rancho 2013 Municipal Special Election Information
RIO RANCHO, N.M. - The Rio Rancho Governing Body has approved holding a municipal special election on Tuesday, Aug. 20, 2013. On the ballot for voter consideration will be the following question:

"Shall the City of Rio Rancho reduce the rate of Municipal Higher Education Facilities Gross Receipts Tax approved by voters on March 4, 2008, currently imposed at the rate of one-fourth (1/4) of one percent (1%) to the rate of one-eighth (1/8) of one percent (1%)?"

For Reduction of Municipal Higher Education Facilities Gross Receipts Tax

Against Reduction of Municipal Higher Education Facilities Gross Receipts Tax

Election Day Voting
Voters on Election Day (Aug. 20, 2013) will be able to cast their ballot at any of the four polling locations, or voting convenience centers, that will be available. Voting convenience center locations on Election Day will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., and will include:

●Rio Rancho City Hall, 3200 Civic Center Circle NE, 87144
●Meadowlark Senior Center, 4330 Meadowlark Lane, 87124
●Mountain View Middle School, 4101 Montreal Loop NE, 87144
●Soul Rio Community Church, 2003 Southern Blvd. SE, Suite 128-131,
87124

Absentee Voting
Applications for absentee ballots may be obtained only from the Office of the City Clerk at Rio Rancho City Hall, 3200 Civic Center Circle, Suite 150, beginning July 16, 2013. All applications for an absentee ballot must be completed and accepted by the City Clerk prior to 5 p.m., on Aug. 16, 2013.

The City Clerk will accept completed absentee ballots delivered by mail, in person by the voter casting the absentee ballot, by a member of the voter’s immediate family, or by the caregiver to the voter until 7 p.m. on Aug. 20, 2013.

Absentee ballots may be marked in person in the Office of the City Clerk at Rio Rancho City Hall during the hours of 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, from July 16, 2013, through Aug. 16, 2013.

Early Voting
Early voting will be available at Rio Rancho City Hall during the hours of 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, from July 23, 2013, through Aug. 16, 2013.

Voter Registration
City of Rio Rancho residents 18 years of age and older who wish to vote in this special election, and are not already registered, must register with their respective County Clerk’s Office (Sandoval of Bernalillo) on or before 5 p.m. on July 23, 2013, provided, however, that the County Clerk shall accept for filing certificates of registration that are hand-delivered before 5 p.m. on July 23, 2013, or that are postmarked no later than July 23, 2013.

For more information about registering to vote, the Sandoval County Clerk’s Office can be reached at (505) 867-7572, or online at http://www.sandovalcounty.com.

The Bernalillo County Clerk’s Office can be reached at (505) 243-8683, or online athttp://www.bernco.gov/clerk.

Voter Photo Identification
Per changes approved by voters to the city’s Charter in March 2012, photo identification is now required for municipal elections in Rio Rancho. The Aug. 20, 2013, special election will be the city’s first municipal election with this requirement in place.

Per city ordinance adopted by the Rio Rancho Governing Body, the following is information regarding voter photo identification for Rio Rancho municipal elections:

●When a voter approaches the election polling place seeking to vote, the voter must identify herself or himself audibly by name. The Municipal Election Clerk shall locate the registered voter’s name as spoken and ask the individual seeking to vote for one current identification card containing the voter’s name and photograph.

●Such photo identification card may include any card issued by a government agency, driver’s license, student identification card, commercial transaction card (such as a credit or debit card), insurance card, union card, a professional association card or a voter identification card issued by the Rio Rancho City Clerk.

●If the individual is unable to provide a photo identification card, she or he shall be allowed to vote on a conditional ballot, but only if she or he swears or affirms under penalty of perjury in an affidavit provided by the City Clerk that she or he is the registered voter listed on the voter registration rolls at the precinct at which she or he presented herself or himself to vote and provides her or his date of birth and the last four digits of her or his Social Security number.

●Conditional ballots shall be issued for no other reason than the failure to present photo identification. Conditional ballots shall be counted only by the Canvassing Board and only on the voter’s presentation to the City Clerk within the three-day canvassing period one of the photo identification cards described in this section. The Canvassing Board shall also verify that the voter who cast the provisional ballot was registered to vote for the election and did not vote elsewhere in the same election. If a voter who cast a conditional ballot under this section swears or affirms under penalty of perjury in an affidavit provided by the City Clerk within the three-day canvassing period that she or he has a religious objection to being photographed, such voter shall not be required to submit photo identification. The Canvassing Board shall otherwise verify that the conditional ballot was valid.

●Voter photo identification cards shall be issued by the City Clerk without charge to any voter who presents any two of the following identification documents that show the name and address of the voter: a state-issued identification card, Social Security card, student identification card, library card, insurance card, selective service card, union card, professional association card, utility bill, bank statement, government check or a paycheck. If the individual is unable to present any two of these documents to the City Clerk, then the voter shall swear or affirm in writing under penalty of perjury that she or he is the registered voter and shall be issued a voter photo identification card upon confirmation with the County Clerk that such person is registered to vote. The City Clerk issued photo identification card shall state on its face that it shall not be valid for identification other than for the purpose of voting in city of Rio Rancho municipal elections and shall not be valid if the voter is subsequently purged from the voter rolls.

Questions/Other Information
For questions regarding absentee, early and Election Day voting, or obtaining a city-issued voter photo identification card, please contact the Rio Rancho Office of the City Clerk at (505) 891-5004.

For other information, such as District 1 City Councilor Chuck Wilkins’ intent to sponsor an ordinance seeking Rio Rancho Governing Body approval to put into place a new 1/8 of 1% Gross Receipts Tax specifically dedicated to public safety (police and fire/emergency medical services) should voters approve reducing the Municipal Higher Education Facilities Gross Receipts Tax, please visit the city’s Web site, http://www.ci.rio-rancho.nm.us/specialelection.

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