Along with its history of razor-thin elections, recent contests in New Mexico have encountered voting irregularities, including missing ballots and technical troubles. Election officials in the state are preparing for tight scrutiny after the final votes are cast on Nov. 4.
After a report on efforts to ensure a fair election in Albuquerque, an election law expert examines voting concerns around the country.
Photos: View Photos From the NewsHour's Week in New Mexico
October 10, 2008 Patchwork
Nation
A project of the Christian Science Monitor, Patchwork Nation examines the American voter beyond red and blue with close examinations of how this election year had unfolded in 11 communities across the country. Each place represents a distinct community type within the American electorate. Explore data, read blogs and find out how the campaigns have reached out to these important voting groups.
October 22, 2008 Young Voters in New Mexico Assess Stakes for '08 Race In a presidential race of historical porportions, young voters stand poised to play a key role in the outcome of the 2008 race. Students from the University of New Mexico describe their views on the McCain-Obama contest and discuss whether young voters will go to the polls this fall. October 20, 2008 Voter Turnout, Economy Concerns Take Spotlight in Northern New Mexico Tucked in the mountains of northern New Mexico, the small town of Las Vegas is part of the state's Hispanic heartland and one of towns across the country where voter turnout may prove crucial to the outcome of the presidential race. October 17, 2008 Reporter's Notebook: KNME's Gene Grant on Voting in New Mexico Trying to get one's arms around the nature of New Mexico politics can bend even the sharpest political watchers over their keyboards in frustration. It's not easy, but it's always interesting, to say the least. October 16, 2008 New Mexico Voters React to Final Presidential Showdown After watching the final presidential debate, a group of voters in the battleground state of New Mexico talk to Judy Woodruff about their reactions to the plans and words of Sen. John McCain and Sen. Barack Obama. October 16, 2008 Number of Uninsured, Physician Shortages Challenge New Mexico's Health Care System Faced with one of the nation's highest poverty rates and the second highest percentage of the population living without health insurance, New Mexico is navigating significant challenges when it comes to the medical care of its residents - often making health care reform a top issue of discussion during this election year. October 15, 2008 McCain Campaign Hinges on Strong Debate Performance With the election less than three weeks off, senior correspondent Judy Woodruff previews the stakes for the final debate between Sens. Barack Obama and John McCain and to reflect on politics in the Land of Enchantment. October 15, 2008 Candidates' Representatives Discuss Merits of Health Care Plans for N.M., Nation Judy Woodruff digs deeper into the health care issue in New Mexico, speaking with the campaigns' state representatives to explain how their respective health plans will better deal with current needs. October 15, 2008 New Mexico Residents Struggle to Navigate Health Care System in Crisis In New Mexico, where a quarter of the residents do not have health insurance, rising poverty rates and a lack of medical facilities are straining the system and bringing health care to the forefront of this year's election. October 15, 2008 New Mexico's History Plays Distinct Role in a Complex Electorate To understand politics in New Mexico is to understand how the state's voters are deeply connected to their history and generational roots. As the NewsHour examines the political battleground of New Mexico this week, New Mexico State Historian Estevan Rael-Galvez offered his insights on the factors that have shaped the state's unique history. October 14, 2008 New Mexico Offers Case Study in Economic Inequalities New Mexico's stark economic disparities are evident in the state's north, from the affluent community of Los Alamos to the struggling Hispanic heartland of Espanola. Paul Solman reports on the reasons behind the inequalities and the efforts to narrow the gap. October 13, 2008 Activists Seek to Boost Native American Vote in New Mexico Native Americans make up more than 10 percent of potential voters in the battleground state of New Mexico, and political activists are working to increase Indian participation in November's election. Tristan Ahtone of the National Minority Consortia reports from New Mexico. October 13, 2008 New Mexico's Unusual Demographics Shape Campaigns' Strategies In this first spotlight segment on New Mexico, the NewsHour examines election issues in the Land of Enchantment as the race between Sens. John McCain and Barack Obama nears its end. Political analysts discuss local campaign tactics. October 13, 2008 Political, Economic Scene in New Mexico Set to Affect Election In this first segment of a series on New Mexico's role as a battleground state, Ray Suarez sets the scene in the Land of Enchantment, whose wide demographics and economy will affect the choice of voters this election. October 13, 2008 Economic, Cultural Concerns Highlight New Mexico Town Hall If all politics is local, Sunday night's town hall meeting with voters in Albuquerque, N.M., provided a fresh example of how the issues topping the national conversation have their roots in community-level election dialogue. October 10, 2008 Hispanic Voters Poised to Wield Political Power in New Mexico If the battle for the presidency comes down to how the West is won, New Mexico's large Hispanic and Latino electorate could tip the vote this November.
In a state known for razor-thin elections, the Hispanic and Latino population in New Mexico embodies the state's reputation for independence and political diversity. October 10, 2008 Hispanic Voters Poised to Wield Political Power in New Mexico If the battle for the presidency comes down to how the West is won, New Mexico's large Hispanic and Latino electorate could tip the vote this November. October 10, 2008 Obama Sees New Mexico As a Must-Win State Sen. Barack Obama's campaign recognized early on that New Mexico was going to be critical to its success and that the road to the White House went through New Mexico, Nevada and nearby states. National Public Radio's Morning Edition host Renee Montagne reports from New Mexico on the close presidential race. -- National Public Radio October 07, 2008 Defining the Quasi-sovereignty of Native Nations of America KNME's citizen journalist Rebecca Riley reflects on how to define sovereignty as it applies to Native nations and calls on Native leaders to make sovereignty the top priority in the 2008 election. -- KNME October 03, 2008 New Mexico's Hispanic, Students Population May Sway Vote NOW on PBS travels to New Mexico to see how both campaigns are hoping to attract -- and secure -- first time voters on college campuses, as well as voters in New Mexico's large Hispanic population. -- NOW October 03, 2008 Learn More About New Mexico New Mexico has the highest Hispanic population in the United States and the second-highest percentage of uninsured residents. See how the state stacks up against the rest of the country on other demographic info, unemployment, education and poverty rates, and other key data. September 24, 2008 Battle to Replace Domenici in New Mexico Senate Race Centers on Energy Policy The race for New Mexico's first open Senate seat in 26 years has brought the national renewable energy debate into local focus as Republican Rep. Steve Pearce battles Democratic Rep. Tom Udall for the job.
New Mexico has the highest Hispanic population in the United States and the second-highest percentage of uninsured residents. See how the state stacks up against the rest of the country on other demographic info, unemployment, education and poverty rates, and other key data.
Along with its history of razor-thin elections, recent contests in New Mexico have encountered voting irregularities, including missing ballots and technical troubles. Election officials in the state are preparing for tight scrutiny after the final votes are cast on Nov. 4.
