What’s on the 2026 ballot?
The following is a list of ballot measures and bonds that appear on ballots this November. The process of compiling this information involved downloading a sample ballot (West Side of Albuquerque) and looking through arguments for and against from a free market perspective.
Statewide Constitutional Amendments
Amendment 1 would require a veto message from the Gov. when a bill is vetoed. We have no views on this matter.
Amendment 2: Repeals the requirement that school district elections be held exclusively in odd-numbered years. Currently, New Mexico school districts can only hold statewide elections in odd-numbered years, when many local governments hold elections for city council seats. This would eliminate that requirement if approved. If a school district needs to put a bond question on the ballot to get funding for big projects, they would rather do that during a bigger general election when voter turnout is higher. School districts could avoid having to pay for expensive mail-in elections in some circumstances. We are generally supportive, but not strongly.
Amendment 3: would require that the governor appoint university regents from a pool selected by a nominating committee created by the Legislature. There have been arguments about cronyism and political payoffs over regent appointments over the years. The Legislature is attempting to insert itself into the nomination process. We are generally supportive, but not strongly.
Amendment 4: would pay legislators a generous salary starting at $68,000 adjusted annually for inflation over time in addition to per diem payments of $247 daily, and a very generous pension.
We strongly oppose this measure (click to see why).
Statewide Bonds: Bonds are debt paid off by YOUR property taxes. RGF generally recommends voting against bonds
Bond Question 1: $21 million for senior centers.
Bond Question 2: $19 million for libraries.
Bond Question 3: $352 million higher education
Bernalillo County Bond Questions:
$2.5 million for libraries
$9 million for county buildings and vehicles
$20.3 million for recreational facilities including aquatic centers
$6.2 million for transportation facilities including buses and bike lanes
$6 million for public housing
Albuquerque Ballot Issues
Repeal the requirement for a public vote on spending over $10 million on a performing arts center; This was supposed to be on ballots in 2025, but was accidentally omitted. Opposed as the current law simply gives voters the final say on how their money is used.
Amend the Albuquerque Charter to designate Albuquerque Community Safety as “Chief.”
Advocates say it puts ACS leader on same level as APD (police) and AFR (fire) with a goal of legitimizing the department as the City’s official third pillar of public safety. Unlocks federal and state money. We generally oppose this measure as it will likely lead to bigger budgets and government growth.
Amend the distribution of the public safety tax to include ACS and money for homeless and code enforcement.
No. Public safety means public safety.
Coming soon: judges.