Santa Fe voters tend to be a well-informed lot — and we'd love to think that it's owing to what you read in The New Mexican. But, more than anyone else, thanks — and a bit of support — should go to the tireless volunteers of the League of Women Voters of Santa Fe County.

League members — and it's a co-ed operation, its name aside — are the ones who, year in and year out, do the tough, detailed work of watching over local government.

Their main mission is, as always, getting out the vote — a tough enough task in a town too often disgusted with its elected leaders — but where they really shine is in the field of homework: They spend the long hours involved in observing the City Council and the Board of Santa Fe County Commissioners, a well as the Legislature and the many local boards and state regulatory agencies. While many of their fellow citizens might show up when there's a donnybrook on the agenda, the league volunteers are there from gavel to gavel of the most mundane meetings.

Then they pore over the minutes of meetings, analyzing issues and figuring out the legalese, translating and synthesizing it so the thicker-skulled among us can tell what our elected and appointed leaders are really up to.

It's the league that makes sense of issues like health care, economic development, population growth and demographics, affordable housing, education and whatever else appears on the horizon. The group does all this without taking sides, let alone seeking personal gain.

What our community sees from members' efforts are:

u Candidate forums and the voter guides that come out ahead of elections in The New Mexican.

u Issue-oriented forums to let the community know what's at stake at election time.

u Voter-registration drives.

u A who's-who of elected and appointed officials, and

u A league Web site loaded with analysis and local-politics lists.

That's a lot of work, all of it done for free.

But there are costs involved — not much; maybe $18,000 for the coming year.

One way those costs are met is by league members paying for the privilege of doing the work they do: Dues are $45 a year for singles, $75 per household. And lots of members make contributions on top of their dues.

Still, the league is running a little short: This year, it needs another $4,500 to carry out its goals — which include what could be some eye-opening information. Yes, you read that right; an amount in the low four figures.

Tough as times may be, surely some Santa Feans can help meet that goal — can't you?

To make a contribution, to find out more than we just told you about its work, or to join in league efforts, call 982-9766. Or send a tax-deductible check to League of Women Voters of Santa Fe County, 1472 St. Francis Drive, Santa Fe, N.M. 87505. Or check out their Web site at www.santafeco.nm.lwvnet.org.