From left, League of Women Voters member Jody Benson, Los Alamos County Clerk Naomi Maestas, Councilor David Izraelevitz, League member Lynn Jones and Chief Deputy Clerk Adrianna Ortiz hold up a proclamation declaring September as Voter Registration Month. Photo by Kirsten Laskey/ladailypost.com

COUNTY News:

Los Alamos County Council presented a proclaimation declaring September as Voter Registration Month during its regular meeting Tuesday night. Councilor David Izraelevitz read the proclamation:

WHEREAS: Registering to vote empowers eligible citizens to exercise their right to vote, thereby increasing participation in elections; and

WHEREAS: Since 2012, Americans across the nation have celebrated National Voter Registration Day on the fourth Tuesday in September, serving as a single day of coordinated efforts to raise awareness of voter registration; and

WHEREAS: The voter registration process in New Mexico has become more convenient than ever before, with applications available at any county clerk’s office, the Secretary of State’s office, or many State agencies; and

WHEREAS: On January 1, 2016, New Mexico joined 26 other states in providing on-line voter registration, with over 6,800 electronic applications processed by the Los Alamos County Clerk’s office to date; and

WHEREAS: On March 14, 2019, the New Mexico House of Representatives passed Senate Bill 672, allowing New Mexico to join 17 other states and the District of Columbia in offering same-day voter registration options to eligible voters; and

WHEREAS: Public outreach about voter registration and deadlines is critical as local voters prepare to exercise their right to vote;

NOW, THEREFORE, on behalf of the Council of the Incorporated County of Los Alamos, I do hereby proclaim the Month of September as

“VOTER REGISTRATION MONTH” AND FURTHERMORE, declare Tuesday, September 24, 2019 as “VOTER REGISTRATION DAY” and encourage all eligible citizens to register to vote and be active participants in the democratic process.