At the Legislature

A trip to the NM Legislature is always an adventure, from appreciating anew the beautiful and unique Roundhouse and its dazzling displays of New Mexican art, to the colorful presence of Navajos and cowboys and legislators and lobbyists and anaylsts and characters (see below) and just plain folks in the circular hallways, to experiencing the quality of light in the bright atrium with the Zia symbol dominating the space. Election Reform Day in Santa Fe yesterday was no exception.

More than 70 people, including many from DFNM and NM Democratic Friends, flowed in the atrium with their Verified Voter Paper Ballot signs to hear the press conferences about a voter lawsuit in NM and the immediate need for election reform. Speakers included Senator Gerald Ortiz y Pino, Rep. Mary Helen Garcia, Maggie Toulouse of the League of Conservation Voters and Agnes Mosses of the NAACP, as well as representatives from the Green Party of NM, League of Women Voters and Peace and Justice Center of Santa Fe.

Before and after the press conferences, people traveled the floors of the Roundhouse stopping in to see legislators and push for election reform -- citizen lobbying in action.

Thanks to all of you who made the effort to travel to Santa Fe yesterday and transform our concerns about election reform into positive action. For those who couldn't make it, why not try visiting on Friday, when the amended Election Reform bill is expected to be heard in the Senate Rules Committee, or later in the session when DFNM is planning another guided trip. We hope that all of you who can possibly do so will visit at least once before the Session ends on March 19.

(Click photos for larger images. Click for more photos from Election Reform Day.)