The statewide local election has gotten off to a sluggish start: Just 4.9% of registered voters across New Mexico and 6.4% in Santa Fe County have cast ballots so far, the Secretary of State's Office reported late last week.

Early in-person voting began Oct. 7 at the Santa Fe County Clerk's Office and expanded Oct. 18 to additional locations around the county. Early in-person voting continues through Saturday at all those polling sites. Polling sites will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Election Day, Nov. 4.

Data released Friday showed 67,912 New Mexicans had voted early, either in person or by mail; 61.3% of them were Democrats. In Santa Fe County, 74.7% of the 7,357 voters who had cast ballots were registered Democrats.

The state had slightly fewer registered voters in September — but S

See Full Page