CANDIDATES FOR THE ALBUQUERQUE MAYOR'S RACE ON THE BALLOT THIS COMING OCTOBER WILL HAVE TO WIN 50 PERCENT OF INSTEAD OF 40 PERCENT TO AVOID A RUNOFF ELECTION. THAT'S THE RESULT OF THE MAIL-IN ELECTION THAT ENDED MONDAY. CITY CLERK AMY BAILEY SAYS WE HAD ABOUT A 17 PERCENT VOTER TURNOUT.

BUT 46 HUNDRED VOTES OF THE MORE THAN 55 THOUSAND MAILED BACK TO HER OFFICE DIDN'T COUNT BECAUSE THOSE VOTERS DIDN'T SIGN THEIR BALLOTS. BAILEY INITIALLY TOLD THEM THEY COULD COME TO HER OFFICE AND SIGN THEIR BALLOT ... THEN DISCOVERED THAT WAS ILLEGAL AFTER A MORE THOROUGH READING OF THE LAW.

SHE CALLS THE ELECTION "A LEARNING EXPERIENCE."