New Mexican
Dem ballots for caucus ready

Registered Democrats can begin requesting absentee ballots for the Feb. 5 Presidential Preference Caucus in New Mexico, the state party announced this week.

The party plans to begin sending out the vote-by-mail ballots Jan. 12 to those who request them. Request forms are available at Democratic Party of New Mexico headquarters, 1301 San Pedro NE, Albuquerque, where the phone number is 505-830-3650.

Forms also are available by fax or e-mail, or can be downloaded at the party's Web site at www.nmdemocrats.org.

The party will accept requests for absentee ballots until 5 p.m. Jan. 21. Completed ballots must be returned by mail and postmarked by Jan. 28. The counting of the absentee ballots begins on the day of the caucus, in which Democrats will be able to vote in person at 184 sites.

Results of the election will be used to determine New Mexico's allocation of Democratic National Convention delegates among the presidential candidates.