Chair of the Clerks’ Affiliate and Los Alamos County Clerk Naomi Maestas, second row far right, speaking this morning during a press conference urging lawmakers to pass the Election Security and Administration bill. Screenshot/LADP

By KIRSTEN LASKEY
Los Alamos Daily Post
kirsten@ladailypost.com

Chair of the Clerks’ Affiliate and Los Alamos County Clerk Naomi Maestas expressed support for SB6, the Election Security and Administration bill, this morning during a press conference held via Zoom.

The Clerk’s Affiliate hosted the press conference attended by election officials from across New Mexico who urged lawmakers to pass the bill.

Maestas explained that the creation of SB6 was a collaborative effort between lawmakers and election administrators, and it incorporates feedback from clerks across the state.

Furthermore, the bill features “needed measures that will assist in our ability to continue to serve our communities securely and transparently as well as supporting voters’ ability to engage with our democratic process,” she said.

“Among many things SB6 features is added efficiency allowing clerk offices … to resume processing voter registrations the Monday after completing our county canvases,” Maestas said. “Currently clerk’s offices cannot resume these critical tasks until 35 days after an election. (Other features are) increase transparency (and) adding voting system checks or randomize precinct audits for each county after primary local elections. Although New Mexico elections already may be audited during county and state canvases while leading to an election, the additional voting system check currently only occurs after a general election and it does not include all counties. Another key factor is an improved voter experience (such as) aligning absentee deadline with the U.S. Postal Service guidance. We saw great success with this measure during the 2020 primary and general elections. The bill’s alignment provision creates a timeline that reasonably allows the absentee voter to request, receive and mail back an absentee ballot.”

Support for SB6 was unanimous among all those who spoke during the press conference.

“On behalf of Guadalupe County Clerk’s Office … we stand in support of SB6,” Guadalupe County Clerk Robert Serrano said. “It provides for seamless processing of voter registration and creation of election security program along with several other items that are beneficial to our counties. Regardless of big or small, I think all counties were involved in this process and we stand in support from a rural community.”

Union County Clerk Brenda Green said she was one of the parties involved in the creation of the SB6.

“I can tell from our perspective as a small, rural county, my concerns and our concerns were listened to and incorporated into the crafting of this bill,” Green said. “It truly is a reflection of a collaborative effort.”

Las Cruces Chief Deputy Clerk Lindsey Bachman said she is supportive of many things in SB6. She said it increases voters’ access and encourages voters’ confidence in electoral process. Bachman added that key provisions in the bill include the creation of an election security program, codifying same day voter registration procedures that were passed by the voter system certification committee and aligning absentee voter deadlines.

The bill is incredibly important because it reduces voters’ confusion and helps election officials do their jobs efficiently, Bachman said.

Santa Fe County Clerk Katherine Clark said, “I think that it is important to note that during the pandemic, when many other government functions were having difficulties, the clerks’ offices and poll workers showed up and ran efficient and fair elections. What we’re asking here is that we are election first responders, we are election essential workers and we need these changes to make sure we that can continue to run fair and efficient elections in New Mexico.”

Press release issued this morning from the Clerk’s Affiliate regarding SB6:

Senate Bill 6 incorporates feedback from clerks from across the state, from rural and urban counties. It includes needed measures that will assist in our ability to continue to serve our communities securely and transparently while supporting voters’ ability to engage with our democratic process.

“Senate Bill 6 represents a collaborative effort on the part of lawmakers and election administrators,” said Naomi Maestas, Chair of the Clerks’ Affiliate and Los Alamos County Clerk. “We urgently ask the legislature to recognize the need for these administrative changes and to support the tradition of great election administration in our state by voting in favor of SB6.”

Among many other things, Senate Bill 6 features:

• Increased Transparency: Adding voting system checks, or randomized precinct audits, for each county after primary and local elections. Although all New Mexico elections are audited during county and state canvasses following each election, the additional voting system checks currently only occurs after general elections and does not necessarily include all counties.
• Added Efficiency: Allowing Clerks’ Offices to resume processing voter registrations the Monday after completing of their county canvass. Currently, Clerks’ Offices cannot resume this critical task until thirty-five days after an election.
• Improved Voter Experience: Aligning absentee deadlines based with United States Postal Service guidance. Clerk’s Offices saw great success with this measure during the 2020 primary and general elections, but these temporary deadlines were not codified into law in 2021. The bill’s alignment provisions creates a timeline that reasonably allows the absentee voter to request, receive and mail back an absentee ballot.

Because the bill could potentially benefit election administration so significantly, 27 of the 33 county clerks recently signed a letter of support to send to state lawmakers.