RIO RANCHO, N.M.—The City of Rio Rancho’s next municipal election will take place on Tuesday, March 1, 2022.

On the ballot are the following offices and questions:

  • Mayor, four-year term
  • District 2 City Councilor, four-year term
  • District 3 City Councilor, four-year term
  • District 5 City Councilor, four-year term
  • Municipal Judge, four-year term
  • $10.6 million Road Bond question
  • $3.6 million Public Safety Bond question
  • $1 million Quality of Life Facilities Bond question
  • Six Charter Amendment questions, one of which would establish a Permanent Fund

Election Day Voting

Voters on Election Day (March 1) are able to cast their ballot at any of the voting convenience centers. Voting convenience center locations on Election Day are open from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. and will include:

  • Cabezon Community Center, 2307 Cabezon Blvd
  • Southern Plaza, 2003 Southern Blvd, Suite 126
  • Broadmoor Senior Center, 3241 Broadmoor Blvd
  • Loma Colorado Library, 755 Loma Colorado Blvd
  • Haynes Community Center, 2006 Grande Blvd
  • Plaza at Enchanted Hills, 7845 Enchanted Hills Blvd, Suite 100
  • Rio Rancho Middle School, 1600 Loma Colorado Blvd
  • Cielo Azul Elementary, 3804 Shiloh Rd
  • Rockaway Plaza, 111 NM 528, Suite 103
  • Puesta Del Sol Elementary, 450 Southern Blvd

In order to vote on Election Day, an individual must be a Rio Rancho registered voter and present one current identification card containing their name and photograph. Sample ballot, voting locations, an absentee ballot tracker, and voter registration information can be viewed at www.rrnm.gov/rrvotes and selecting Voter Information Portal. Candidate and Campaign Committee information, to include campaign contributions, is also available on the City’s website.

Return an Absentee Ballot

Completed Absentee Ballots must be returned no later than 7:00 p.m. on Election Day, March 1, 2022 to:

  • an Early Voting Location,
  • any Election Day Location, or
  • to the City Clerk’s Office, 3200 Civic Center Circle NE, Suite 150

An Absentee Ballot may also be mailed back to the City Clerk’s Office using the Official Return Envelope, which includes pre-paid return postage. All ballots must be received by the City Clerk no later than 7:00 p.m. on March 1, 2022 to be counted, so please mail it back with enough time for it to arrive by the due date.  

Election Results

As soon as possible, following the voting convenience center locations closing at 7:00 p.m. on Election Day, unofficial results will be listed on the City’s website (www.rrnm.gov/rrvotes) and posted outside the Office of the City Clerk at Rio Rancho City Hall. The March 1 unofficial election results and canvass report will be presented for approval to the Sandoval County canvassing board by the Rio Rancho City Clerk on March 11 no later than 5:00 p.m. 

Immediately following the approval, the results of the election will be official and a certificate of canvass will be issued. Per Section 1-14-24, NMSA 1978 of the NM Election Code, an automatic recount will be prompted if:

  1. for the ballot questions, the margin between the votes in support and those opposing are within ½ of a percent of the total votes cast for each question; or
  2. for a municipal officer race, the margin between the two candidates receiving the greatest number of votes for an office are less than one percent of the total votes cast for that office.

If an automatic recount is required, the City Clerk will provide notification to the Secretary of State immediately following the completion of the County canvass. Within seven days of the notification, the Secretary of State must inform the state canvassing board, who will order and set a date for the recount of ballots for the specified office(s) and/or ballot question(s). 

An election contest can occur if someone challenges the validity of the results within 30 days from the date the results are certified by filing a complaint with the Thirteenth Judicial District Court. 

More Information

For more information about the 2022 Municipal Election, visit the City’s website, or contact the Office of the City Clerk at (505) 891-5004.  Follow the City on Twitter (twitter.com/RioRanchoNM), and like it on Facebook (facebook.com/RioRanchoGov).

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