Your vote is your voice. It’s also your child’s voice. Every year children’s issues become more and more important as federal spending on children continues to decline. A new report by the Urban Institute, Kids Share 2008: How Children Fare in the Federal Budget, shows that by every measure, the share of funding for programs that benefit children has been steadily declining since 1960. This decline is expected to continue over the next ten years – unless we demand change.
The federal government funds more than 180 different programs that benefit kids – from child health, nutrition and education to child welfare and juvenile justice. Still, out of every new, inflation-adjusted, non-defense dollar spent by the federal government, only one penny goes to children’s programs. In fact, spending on children’s programs makes up only 10 percent of the entire non-defense budget.
- Every American child should be able to see a doctor – no matter where their parents work.
- Childcare costs as much as college tuition, but it gets much less government support.
- Our kids deserve a world-class education – and our nation can afford to give them one.
- No working parent should risk losing their job because they need to care for their child when he or she is sick.
- Every child deserves an equal start in life.
Find out how the candidates stand on these and other critical children’s issues. Then vote.
Find out more:
Candidate Websites
Other Election Resources
Youth-Oriented Voter Engagement Websites
Organizations Working on Children’s Issues and Poverty
Voting in New Mexico
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Presidential candidates:
John McCain (R): www.johnmccain.com
Barack Obama (D): www.barackobama.com
New Mexico’s congressional candidates:
Senate
Steve Pearce (R): www.peopleforpearce.com/
Tom Udall (D): www.tomudall.com
House, District 1
Martin Heinrich (D): www.martinheinrich.com/
Darren White (R): www.darrenwhiteforcongress.com/
House, District 2
Harry Teague (D): http://harryforcongress.com/index.asp
Edward Tinsley (R): www.edtinsleyforcongress.com/
House, District 3
Daniel East (R): www.daneast4congress.com/
Ben R. Lujan (D): www.benrlujan.com/home.html
Carol Miller (I): www.carolmillercongress.com/
Ron Simmons (I): www.simmons08.com
Go to the Secretary of State's website for a list of candidates for state offices (Legislature, Public Regulation Commission, justices and district judges, etc.).
Go to the state Legislature's website to find out who your current legislators are.
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Important Dates
Oct. 7 Voter registration closes (for voter registration information, contact your local county clerk’s office. Other election information is available through the Secretary of State’s office)
Oct. 7 Absentee voting beings
Oct. 18 Early voting begins
Nov. 1 Absentee and early voting end
Nov. 4 Election Day
To vote, you must be:
- A citizen of the United States;
- A resident of New Mexico;
- Eighteen (18) years old or older at the time of the next election;
- Registered by Oct. 7, 2008;
- Not legally declared mentally incapacitated;
- If you are a felon you must have completed all of the terms and condition of your sentencing.
Registering to vote:
You may register in person at the Office of the County Clerk in the county where you live (see the blue pages in your telephone directory) or at the Secretary of State’s office.
You may request a voter registration application be mailed to your residence.
You may register to vote when applying for a new or renewed driver’s license, when applying for certain public assistance or services, at public libraries, colleges and universities.
You may register at any organized voter registration drive or with any Third Party Voter Registrant Agent.
Where and When to vote:
If you vote on Election Day (Nov. 4), you must vote at your precinct, which is listed on your voter registration card. If you vote early (Oct. 18-Nov. 1), you may vote at any of the voting sites in your county. If you have questions, call your County Clerk’s office.
Polling places are open from 7am to 7pm on Election Day (Nov. 4).
You may vote early Tuesday-Friday from 12 noon to 8pm and Saturday from 10am to 6pm (Oct. 18-Nov. 1).
You may also vote in your County Clerk’s office 28 days before the election during regular hours of business.
Every registered voter in New Mexico has the right to:
- Cast a ballot if you are in line when the polls close;
- Inspect a sample ballot before voting;
- Ask for and receive instructions on how to operate the voting machine or mark a paper ballot;
- Ask for and receive instructions on how to cast a provisional ballot if your name is not on the list of voters;
- Vote a provisional ballot if you registered by mail for the first time in this county and did not provide identification when you registered or do not have it with you today;
- Vote by emergency paper ballot if the voting machine is broken and cannot be repaired in a reasonable length of time;
- Ask for, receive, and vote another paper ballot if your paper ballot is spoiled or defective;
- Be assisted by a person of your choice if you are disabled or need help reading the ballot (some exceptions include: your employer, a representative of your union, or a candidate on the ballot); and
- Vote free from intimidation by election officials or any other person.
To report complaints or irregularities in the polling place: Call the Office of the Secretary of State at 800-477-3632
For more information: Call the Bureau of Elections, Office of the Secretary of State at 505-827-3600 or 800-477-3632, or email Theresa.Atencio@state.nm.us
Native American Election Information Program: Call 505-827-3600 or 800-477-3632, or email Martin.Aguilar@state.nm.us
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