----- Forwarded Message ----- From: Bernalillo County Bernie Dems via
ActionNetwork.org <info@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>To: "nmcheryl@xxxxxxxxx"
<nmcheryl@xxxxxxxxx>Sent: Wednesday, February 27, 2019, 3:20:55 PM MSTSubject:
Critical Hearing Soon for HB93 Open Primaries
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GreetingsCheryl
With the vast number of important bills in the legislature this year many of us
are watching a number of priority pieces of legislation. Here is one which is
getting a tremendous amount of attention and is very, very important to
Progressives. We need your help.
New Mexico's Open Primaries Bill, HB93, sponsored by Rep. Daymon Ely and
supported by Reps. Natalie Figueroa and Joy Garrett, and Secretary of State
Maggie Toulouse Oliver, has made it through two committees. Judiciary
Chairwoman and long-time House Representative Gail Chasey voted for HB93 in the
House Elections committee last week; her first ever "yes" vote for an open
primaries bill!
Next is House Judiciary, which will be tough, but possible. If we can get it
through Judiciary we think it will pass the full House and stands a great shot
in the Senate. Three Democrats on the Judiciary have voted against the bill in
previous sessions: Reps Mathew McQueen, Eliseo Alcon and Speaker Brian Egolf.
We need to push them to vote "Yes" this year!
HB93 is not yet scheduled, but will be very soon. We will email you as soon as
we are made aware of the hearing, hoping that you, and perhaps a friend or two,
will join us and show the Judiciary your support in person. Your live presence
is an important element of this process.
Forty-one states already have open primaries. Let’s not be the last to adopt
this important voter engagement tool. More voters means a stronger mandate and
a more accountable government listening to everyone.
PLEASE CALL, WRITE AND SHOW UP! It will make a big difference when our
legislators hear from you.
***Please contact the Judiciary below, today, and do not delay. We have
attached a script below for your use.***
Follow the links for their contact information
| Title
| Name | District | Party | Role |
| Representative | Gail Chasey
| 18 | D | Chair |
| Representative | Daymon Ely | 23 | D | Vice Chair |
| Representative | Eliseo Lee Alcon
| 6 | D | Member |
| Representative | Deborah A. Armstrong
| 17 | D | Member |
| Representative | Micaela Lara Cadena | 33 | D | Member |
| Representative | Christine Chandler | 43 | D
| Member |
| Representative | Zachary J. Cook | 56 | R | Member |
| Representative | Brian Egolf | 47 | D | Member |
| Representative | Dayan Hochman-Vigil | 15 | D | Member |
| Representative | Georgene Louis | 26 | D | Member |
| Representative | Matthew McQueen | 50 | D | Member |
| Representative | Greg Nibert | 59 | R | Member |
| Representative | William "Bill" R. Rehm | 31 | R | Member |
| Representative | James G. Townsend | 54 | R | Member |
Thank you for helping move this voter engagement bill through the legislature!
Sincerely,
Kathleen Burkeand the NMOP Board and Advisorsnmopenprimaries.orgFollow NMOP on
Facebook
p.s. Here is the sample script and talking points:
Dear Representative --,
My name is – and I am a registered voter in (your county). I ask you to support
Open Primaries, HB 93 Primary Election Participation by DTS Voters. Our closed
primary system in New Mexico is a form of voter suppression as twenty-five
percent of New Mexicans and sixty percent of most young people are shut out of
the primary because they are not affiliated with a political party. We want
more voters of all ages to participate. Primaries are public elections, paid
for by the public, and one should not have to join a political party to vote.
Please vote Yes! on HB 93 in the House Judiciary!
Thank you,Your Name
Facts to know and share:
- This bill only allows declined to state (DTS or independent voters) and
minor party voters (like Greens) to vote in the primary of their choosing. It
does not allow a registered Democrat to vote in the Republican primary or
vice-versa.
- NM is one of only 9 states with a closed primary system.
- Our bill is called a semi-open primary system. Other states have this but
also have broader bills that allow any voter to vote for any candidate in the
primary. We know such an approach has no chance of passing.
- We do support ranked choice voting as the ultimate goal, but believe this
bill is an important intermediate step.
- Overall, our goal is to engage more voters and create more competitive
elections so that government is representative.
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