‘If you want to vote, wear a mask’: Las Cruces mayor to require voters to wear masks at City Hall
LAS CRUCES, New Mexico - Despite push-back from city councilors, Mayor Ken Miyagishima plans to require all voters to wear masks when casting their ballots inside Las Cruces City Hall.
"If you want to vote, wear a mask," Mayor Miyagishima said.
"Your proposal would disenfranchise some people," said Councilwoman Yvonne Flores, who represents District 6, adding "We don't want to tread into these dangerous waters."
"I don't think we have to go that far," said Councilman Gill Sorg. "It's pretty important that people vote. I'll just simply put it that way."
On May 16, the Las Cruces City Hall will open as an early voting site for the public for the June primary elections.
Early voting officially began Tuesday at the Doña Ana County Government Center, where voters were not required to wear masks.
However, out of the 333 people that had voted as of Friday morning, only 2 had not worn masks, according to Doña Ana County Clerk Amanda López Askin. Both agreed to wear them, she said.
"I would be very thoughtful about the layers we put that deny a person a fundamental right to vote," said López Askin. "The implications of that and the ripple effects of that could be problematic.
The emergency proclamation is within the mayor's powers, given the city's emergency declaration, he told ABC-7. It will not require a vote. He said he plans to issue the proclamation on May 15.
Mayor Miyagishima told councilors he wanted to preserve the safety of the public and essential city employees. In Wisconsin, at least 52 people tested positive for the virus after in-person voting, according to media reports there.
"I get where you're coming from," said Councilwoman Johana Bencomo, who represents district four. "I also think it would be really difficult for us to tell someone they would not be able to come in."
Editor's note: Mayor Miyagishima clarified that his emergency proclamation will only last 72 hours, so the Las Cruces City Council will have the power to extend the proclamation on May 18th.
