Halloween spooks will roam local neighborhoods Friday to remind people to vote early.
Members of New Mexico Youth Organized will sponsor the first Trick or Vote to encourage early voting, especially among young voters.
"We'll be reminding people to vote early, because the following day is the last day to vote early, and it's the perfect chance to remind them of their polling location in case they can't vote early," said lead volunteer recruiter Cyrus Gould. "We're giving out information on the Election Protection hotlines - it's 866-OUR-VOTE. If people have trouble at the polls, those calls go directly to lawyers who are on call for any kind of situations that arise on Tuesday, Nov. 4."
Trick or Vote is a nationally recognized event with roots in Colorado, Michigan, Washington and Oregon.
With a costumed crew of more than 200 people, teams will meet at Lower Johnson Field at 5 p.m. and go trick-or-voting from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
"We will have gift prizes at certain doors, so it will be kind of like a scavenger hunt," said Trick or Vote coordinator Amanda Manjarrez. "It's a great way to get people who are volunteering for the first time - a way to have fun with it."
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Hip Hop Congress, Warehouse 508 and the Arts and Entertainment Center are among the organizations helping NMYO's efforts to recruit and train people by working as captains for the teams.
Refreshments will also be
provided for volunteers, as well as masks and free face painting for those without costumes.
Because Halloween is the biggest door-knocking day of the year and only four days before Election Day, the NMYO will also host an afterparty at the Outpost
Performance Space.
The party runs from 7:30 p.m. to 10 p.m. It's free to all volunteers and $3 for everyone else. The party will feature local artists DJ Eve, DJ Bea, DJ Mittens, City Side Front and several costume contests and door prizes.
"The afterparty that we're doing is for all ages, no drugs or alcohol, so it's going to be really safe," Gould said. "And I think it's a great alternative for people who are tired of keggers and who maybe don't want to be a part of that."
A nonpartisan and nonprofit organization, NMYO is sponsored by popular organizations such as YouTube. In this year's Trick or Vote, YouTube will make videos of the event and of Election Day as part of its "Video Your Vote" campaign.
"It's important to get the youth involved, and voting is a part of that," said NMYO intern Cheyenne Beardsley. "It's a part of having your voice heard and having a say in what direction our country is going to take. We are the future."
With Election Day just around the corner, NMYO will also hand out fliers with information and voting schedules with times and locations.
"We're not telling people who to vote for. We're just telling them to get out there and vote," Gould said.
To volunteer with Trick or Vote, sign up at TrickOrVote.org or at Johnson Field on Friday.
