Pubdate: Sun, 19 Oct 2014
Source: Albuquerque Journal (NM)
Copyright: 2014 Albuquerque Journal
Contact:  http://www.abqjournal.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/10
Author: Ryan Boetel
Page: B1

POT QUESTION HAS THE INTEREST OF EARLY VOTERS

A non-binding question about pot seems to be growing interest in 
Bernalillo County ballots.

Eighteen early voting centers opened throughout the county on 
Saturday, the first day early voting was available at numerous locations.

Several people who cast a ballot on Saturday afternoon at the 
Glenwood Village shopping center near Tramway and Montgomery in 
Albuquerque said the pot question was one of the issues that they 
felt most strongly about this year. The governor's race was the 
another question on several voters' minds.

Bernalillo County voters will be asked a question on the ballot about 
whether recreational marijuana use should be legalized. Policy makers 
said the results will let them know if they should take up the issue.

Justin Garcia, 24, said he wanted to support decriminalizing 
marijuana. He said he was glad the question was on the ballot and 
said there's a growing movement toward legalized pot now that the 
drug is legal for adults in Colorado.

"I think there are too many people in jail for non-violent crimes," 
the voter said.

Garcia said the other issue he felt strongly for was a vote against 
Republican Gov. Susana Martinez. "She's against anybody who's for 
marijuana," he said.

Several people who voted just before Garcia at the shopping center 
felt strongly about the same two issues, but were of opposite opinions.

Linda said she has family who live in Colorado and owns property in 
Washington state, where pot is legal for adults. She said she doesn't 
want recreational pot in Albuquerque.

A man and woman, wearing pins for "The Church of Jesus Christ of 
Latter-day Saints," said they felt strongly about the pot question. 
"We don't need it here. It's not good for you," the woman said. "It's 
bad for you to put drugs in your body that are not good for you. 
There's nothing good about it."

Early voting started Oct. 7 at the county clerk's annex building, at 
111 Union Square SE. From Oct. 7 through Oct. 16, 425 people cast a 
ballot at the annex building, said Rebecca See page 16

 From page B1 Martinez, the bureau of elections administrator for the county.

On Saturday, 4,454 people voted, which was similar to voter turnout 
on the first day of early voting in 2010, said Bernalillo County 
Clerk Maggie Toulouse Oliver.

Martinez said on Oct. 7 the county mailed 9,715 absentee ballots to 
voters who requested them.

Most of the early voting centers will stay open 12 hours a day, six 
days a week until Nov. 1. Election Day is Nov. 4.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom