A recent article highlights the challenges faced by potential political candidates in New Mexico, where state legislators do not receive salaries. This lack of pay disproportionately affects working women, minorities, and nonbinary individuals who struggle to serve in the legislature due to financial constraints. A bill proposing pay for legislators failed to gain traction in 2023, but supporters plan to reintroduce a similar bill in the upcoming session. Despite efforts to increase representation, the number of women candidates running for office in the state has decreased. Organizations like Emerge New Mexico are providing support and training for Democratic women to overcome barriers to political participation. The Gender Parity Index shows an increase in the number of women serving in the New Mexico Legislature, but there is still work to be done to achieve gender equality in politics.
In Idaho, AARP is hosting a town hall meeting with Secretary of State Phil McGrane to help voters get information on casting their ballots in the upcoming election. The meeting will cover voting locations, necessary documents, and ballot issues. Two statewide measures, including a constitutional amendment and a citizen proposition, will appear on the ballot. The town hall is an opportunity for voters to get their questions answered by the top state election official and ensure they are prepared to participate in the election process.
In Indiana, a new app called IndianaVoteTimes.org has been launched to help voters find the shortest wait time to cast their ballots. The app, developed by IN Tech for Progress, currently covers Marion, Boone, and Vigo counties, showing estimated wait times at voting centers. The goal is to improve voter turnout in the state by providing accurate information and encouraging more people to vote. The app is accessible from any web browser and relies on crowdsourced data to calculate wait times, with plans to expand to more counties in the future.
Source
Photo credit www.publicnewsservice.org