Last week SB16 passed the New Mexico State Senate. The bill would give almost 24% of New Mexico voters who, like me, are Declined to State voters the right to pick a ballot in the primaries. Thanks to Sen. Nava, who voted for SB16.
I have been an independent for over 20 years. I am one of over 331,000 DTS voters statewide who do not wish to be labeled as a Republican or a Democrat.
My decision to become an independent is motivated by my belief that life isn’t just black or white when it comes to political ideology. But just because I haven’t joined a party doesn’t mean I don’t want to express my views at the ballot box.
I’m a New Mexican taxpayer and American citizen. Primaries are publicly funded. I, and hundreds of thousands of my fellow independents, pay for them. It’s not right to deny us a vote.
 The vast majority of states have open primaries. I think it’s time we made that happen in New Mexico. I want to ask my fellow citizens to call their Representatives and ask them to vote for SB16, which is now before the New Mexico House. It’s time to let all voters vote.
Judith Candelaria is a retired public health nurse who worked for the Chronic Disease Prevention and Control Bureau in the Department of Health. She has lived in New Mexico with her husband in Corrales for over 30 years.