Bernalillo County brings mobile voting to International Fest, urges residents to vote before June 2

Bernalillo County officials used International Fest at Phil Tacone Park on Sunday to press home-the-point voting access and community engagement, stationing a county mobile voting unit at the event on the last day of early voting before the June 2 election.

The county clerk told the crowd the mobile unit was on-site to make voting easy for festivalgoers and reminded voters that this is the county’s first semi-open primary, meaning voters with no party affiliation can request either the Democratic or Republican ballot without changing their registration. “If you’re eligible, you can vote right here, right now,” the county clerk said, directing people to the clerk’s website for polling locations and to staff at the festival for on-the-spot registration.

The clerk laid out specific times and deadlines: early voting at festival locations was available through 6:00 p.m.; polls on election day are open from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. (voters in line at 7:00 p.m. may still vote); and any absentee ballots held by voters should be filled out and returned in person to an early voting location or any election-day site so they are in county hands by 7:00 p.m. on election day. The clerk repeated that the county’s election website, berncoclerk.gov, lists polling locations and other voter resources.

City Councilor Nicole Rogers, who promoted the recently renovated Phil Tacone Park during the event, asked residents to enjoy the free activities while remembering to vote. “The tide is turning in District 3 and District 6. So come enjoy it with us and make sure you vote,” Rogers said, describing activations that included a zip line, BMX pump track and a community kickball contest.

Organizers also spotlighted youth and public-safety outreach. Angelo Ragland introduced a Youth Community Policing Council program aimed at people ages roughly 14–25, saying the initiative connects young people with Albuquerque Police Department community activities and volunteer opportunities and inviting attendees to the program’s information table.

Festival programming continued through the afternoon with cultural performances, public art activities and free food distributed to attendees. Organizers said the event would run until 6:00 p.m.

Practical takeaways from the event: the mobile voting unit was present as a convenience on the last day of early voting before June 2; unaffiliated voters may request either major party ballot in the semi-open primary; and the county clerk’s website, berncoclerk.gov, hosts polling-location details and registration information.