New Mexico’s election officials reminded voters Thursday that state and federal law protect their right to cast their ballots safely and free from intimidation.

The New Mexico Secretary of State’s Office and the New Mexico Department of Justice on Thursday morning published their updated General Election Voter Information Resource Guide, a week after early voting began statewide.

The guide contains dates and deadlines for the general election, for which voting concludes Nov. 5; information about in-person, mail-in or absentee voting; and who is or isn’t allowed at the polls.

“Clear, accessible voting information is key to boosting voter confidence and participation,” said Secretary of State Maggie Toulouse Oliver, a Democrat. “By teaming up with the New Mexico Department of Justice on this voter information resource guide, we’re making sure New Mexicans know all the ways to cast their ballot and the robust safeguards protecting their rights, their vote, and our election process.”

One of the most significant updates in the guide from previous years is a new prohibition on openly carrying firearms at polling places. In March, New Mexico joined at least 21 other states that ban guns where people vote.

Fearing political violence, more states ban firearms at polling places

The new law was inspired in part by Santa Fe poll workers, who faced harassment by people openly carrying firearms during the 2020 presidential election, Rep. Reena Szczepanski (D-Albuquerque) told Source NM partner publication Stateline, for a March story.

“Our national climate is increasingly polarized,” Szczepanski, one of the bill’s sponsors, told Stateline. “Anything we can do to turn the temperature down and allow for the safe operation of our very basic democratic right, voting, is critical.”

The guide asks the public to call the Secretary of State’s Voter Hotline if anyone interferes with their vote through threats, intimidation, or coercion, or if they become aware of any interference with others’ right to vote. That number to call is 1-800-477-3632.

“Ensuring every New Mexican can exercise their right to vote freely and without fear is one of our top priorities,” said Attorney General Raúl Torrez. “This guide provides the critical information voters need to understand their rights, and it reinforces our commitment to protecting those rights from any form of interference or intimidation.”

The guide urges people to use trusted sources for voting information, including the Secretary of State’s Office and the 33 county clerks across the state.

“Be wary of misinformation being promoted or repeated by varying sources on television, online, or on social media,” the guide states.

It also includes information about hotlines to call with voting concerns, disabled voters, and ballot drop boxes, along the roles of election board members, precinct judges, challengers, watchers, media and police, said Alex Curtas, a spokesperson for the Secretary of State’s Office.

The Secretary of State’s Office usually publishes similar advisories for every presidential election, Curtas said in an interview. The new one follows the same format as the last one published in 2022, he said.

You can find a copy of the 11-page guide below.

2024 Voter Information Resource Guide

The Ole Miss Rebels are in the midst of a bye week, so that gives plenty of time for some big-picture questions to the team’s head coach.

According to FootballScoop.com, Lane Kiffin was asked on Wednesday’s SEC Coaches Teleconference about a particular move made by the Oregon Ducks in last week’s win over the Ohio State Buckeyes. Essentially, Oregon seemed to intentionally put 12 men on its defense for a penalty during a crucial Ohio State possession.

Since the clock did not reset after the infraction, the Ducks were able to defend the Buckeyes with 12 men on the field and run time off the clock in the process, just giving up five penalty yards in return. This move has been the talk of college football since Saturday, and Kiffin tied this instance to Ole Miss’ controversy of allegedly faking injuries to slow down offensive possessions.

The allegations had become so strong recently that the Rebels released a statement on the matter last week.

“It’s interesting, though,” Kiffin said, per FootballScoop.com. “I find all this national talk about someone faking an injury, and people shouldn’t do that; I’m not saying I don’t agree with. 

“But, I just found it interesting that everybody thinks this is awesome that you went against the rules and put more people on the field, but then everybody’s [up in arms] when faking an injury. So just found it interesting.”

Kiffin does have a point: it does seem like a bit of a double standard. Of course, injuries are a much more serious matter in football than simply playing with 12 men on the field. Injuries are real and can hamper a player’s physical health and future career, and faking those is a bad look.

Regardless, it appears the NCAA closed that loophole that the Ducks potentially exposed last week, issuing a rules “interpretation” that gives the offense in this scenario the choice of resetting the game clock to the time before the snap. If Oregon did this move on purpose, it will now be a thing of the past.

READ MORE Content From Ole Miss On SI:

– Ole Miss Football Roadmap: Scouting the Rebels’ Remaining 2024 Opponents

– ‘Devastating!’ Ole Miss WR Cayden Lee Leaning On Teammates Following LSU Loss

– Lane Kiffin Offers Encouraging Words Following Ole Miss’ Loss to LSU

– Can Ole Miss Football Better Finish Games Following Bye Week?

– Why Lane Kiffin Isn’t ‘Overreacting’ to Ole Miss’ Loss vs. LSU on Saturday

Spending time in nature reduces stress, anxiety and depression and increases cognition, activity and physical health. It also leads to economic benefits. The Kem C. Gardner Institute reports that the quality of life afforded by outdoor recreation is the No. 1 reason employees in the tech sector move to and stay in Utah. Because of the economic contribution of outdoor recreation — at $8.1 billion annually — Utah became the first state to have a Division of Outdoor Recreation.

In Salt Lake City, many are fortunate to have ready access to outstanding nature and recreation because of its world-class skiing, hiking and biking opportunities across the state. Equitable access to the great outdoors and keeping it safe and healthy for all should be an imperative for the good of Utah and its residents.

Unfortunately, the facts suggest this is not the case. According to Trust for Public Land, residents on the west side of the Salt Lake Valley have significantly less access to parks and public lands than residents on the east side. People on the west side are at greater risk for poor environmental and human health outcomes.

Although the frequency of poor air quality days has decreased in the last two decades, the Central Wasatch Commission reports that there is plenty of room for improvement. The risk of the Great Salt Lake drying up and toxic dust blowing up from the lake bed may render time outdoors dangerous instead of beneficial.

Efforts to keep our extraordinary natural environment healthy and accessible to all are not easily addressed, as they involve the complicated workings of municipal, state and federal governments. Organizations across Utah are increasing awareness and advocating for policies to improve the current state of the environment in Utah to maintain its reputation as a destination for outdoor recreation.

One of these organizations is Nature and Human Health – Utah, or NHH-UT, whose aims are to strengthen and unify the voices of organizations who value the great outdoors that “elevate” life in Utah. Founded in 2019, its mission is to understand, articulate and foster relationships between nature and human health by providing a collaborative arena to engage, formulate actions and implement solutions for people and nature in Utah. It connects organizations that recognize the power of nature for health and desire equal access of nature for all and carries out actions to improve environmental quality across the state.

In 2024, NHH-UT awarded nine pilot grants to carry out cross-sectional research and programs projects. These assess the barriers to nature that some populations face, study how exposure to nature affects mental health and well-being, help people unfamiliar with nature to feel comfortable with it and plant trees in neighborhoods that lack adequate canopy for health. Community groups and researchers supported by NHH-UT pilot grants are making headway in understanding the role of nature in our health and well-being and making sure everyone has equal access to it.

Every reader can contribute to expanding and deepening the connections between nature and human health in our community. If you like to get your hands in the soil, you can participate in tree plantings coordinated by the nonprofit group TreeUtah or grow your own vegetables in a community garden plot at the Wasatch Community Gardens or the Salt Lake City Public Library. If you’d like to help diverse groups enjoy the foothills and mountains, you can volunteer with Camping in Color or Wasatch Adaptive Sports. If you’re passionate about improving the health of our environment, consider attending one of HEAL Utah’s community lobbying training programs. Or, simply make time to take a walk in one of our dozens of urban pocket parks to reinforce the values of being in nature.

Together we can create a culture that values the future of the interaction between the environment and human health.

Dorothy (Dart) Schmalz is the co-leader of NHH-UT and professor/chair of the Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism at the University of Utah. In her research and teaching, she focuses on the life side of the work-life balance equation in supporting health and well-being for people of all walks of life.

Myra Gerst, NHH-UT’s program manager, has worked in preventative public health programming throughout her career. She coordinates public engagement, management of the pilot grant program and facilitating opportunities for nature-based programming within the community.

Nalini Nadkarni, co-leader of NHH-UT and professor emerita at the University of Utah, has interwoven research on forest canopy biota with innovative public engagement throughout her career. She collaborates with faith-based groups, artists, corporations and people who are incarcerated to engage with those who do not or cannot gain access to science education and nature.

Tim Brown, co-leader of NHH-UT and president/CEO at Tracy Aviary since 2005, pays particular attention to preserving a landscape and atmosphere that is an oasis in the middle of the city. Providing opportunities for people to connect with nature is his lifelong passion.