CCNM News:
Common Cause New Mexico (CCNM) will participate in a national thank you to election workers day today to honor those who protected democracy and the right to vote during a historic pandemic.
In New Mexico the extraordinary efforts of the Secretary of State, County Clerks, pollworkers and volunteers, who did everything from sanitizing polling places to coping with an influx of absentee ballots, resulted in a higher than ever turnout (68 percent) in the 2020 Presidential race.
“That was despite a contagious, life-threatening surge of the corona virus,” Monet Silva said, associate director of Common Cause New Mexico, who is sending thank you notes to these unsung heroes—county clerks, poll workers and volunteers.
To troubleshoot problems at polling places, the non-partisan Common Cause, every election operates a hotline with the American Civil Liberties Union and fields a host of volunteers to help voters who experience problems casting their ballot. “This year we were overwhelmed by the people who wanted to help,” she said. “We had over 100 election protection volunteers throughout the state.”
Unfortunately, due to political polarization around the country and in New Mexico many election officials were subject to harassment, even death threats.
A survey of local election officials nationwide by the Brennan Center for Justice released in March and reported on NPR indicated that 1 in 5 local election officials said they were likely to leave their jobs before the 2024 presidential election.
In New Mexico Secretary of State Maggie Toulouse Oliver had to leave her home for several months due to death threats and harassment. In Dona Ana County, Clerk Amanda Lopez-Askin was followed and intimidated by party officials unhappy with the outcome. Yet both election officials have continued to advocate for increased access to the ballot and safe, secure elections.
Many others have signed up to work at the polling place as judges and clerks, despite poor pay, long hours and new threats.
Silva says we owe them a debt of gratitude.
“These officials are no longer just running elections,” Silva said. “They are myth busters, contending with disinformation, standing up for fairness and democracy on the frontlines.”
