Voters in Bernalillo County can expect an incredibly crowded ballot this fall – so crowded, in fact, that election workers are struggling to find room for municipal questions. The city of Albuquerque holds its own regular elections in odd-numbered years, though city councilors occasionally ask the county to add a city item or two to county ballots in even-numbered years. This year, however, the city might seek space for four or more questions on the November ballot, including proposals to change how the police chief is hired and to reduce marijuana penalties. But the ballot is already stuffed with federal and state races, plus retention elections for state and metropolitan judges.
County Clerk Maggie Toulouse Oliver said her staff is investigating the possibility of expanding the ballot from 18 to 20 inches, but that might not be enough for every city question.
Putting the city questions on their own piece of paper presents other challenges, including the need for more voting machines, she said.
“It doesn’t appear that we will be able to accommodate everything that they want to place on the ballot, given the current restraints we’re working under,” Toulouse Oliver said Wednesday in an interview.
That worries city councilors who don’t want to incur the expense of holding their own election at some point. A special election could cost $500,000, they said.
Full Article: Ballot overflow may be problem | Albuquerque Journal News.