REPORT FROM SANTA FE IS MADE POSSIBLE, IN PART, BY GRANTS FROM THE NEW MEXICO MUNICIPAL LEAGUE, A BETTER NEW MEXICO THROUGH BETTER CITIES AND FROM MILLS AND WELCOME TO A VERY TIMELY AND IMPORTANT SHOW BECAUSE OUR GUEST TODAY IS NEW MEXICO'S SECRETARY OF STATE, MAGGIE TOULOUSE OLIVER, THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

>>MAGGIE: OH, THANKS ALWAYS FOR HAVING ME, LORENE.

>>LORENE: WELL YOU HAVE BEEN SECRETARY OF STATE SINCE 2016, YOU ARE OUR CHIEF ELECTIONS OFFICER AND I JUST REALLY WANT TO THANK YOU BECAUSE NEW MEXICO IS KNOWN AS ONE OF THE STATES WITH THE HIGHEST ELECTION INTEGRITY, THANK YOU.

>>MAGGIE: WELL, THANK YOU, IT'S BEEN A LOT OF HARD WORK OVER MANY YEARS WITH A LOT OF FOLKS, BUT WE ARE DOING I THINK A FABULOUS JOB HERE IN OUR STATE AND ALWAYS MORE TO IMPROVE UPON.

>>LORENE: THAT'S TRUE, BUT LET'S JUST TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT, WE HAVE PAPER BALLOTS HERE.

>>MAGGIE: ABSOLUTELY.

>>LORENE: SO THEY CAN'T BE HACKED.

>>MAGGIE: RIGHT.

>>LORENE: YOU CAN'T GO IN AND TURN ALL THE BIDEN VOTES TO TRUMP OR ALL THOSE SHENANIGANS.

IT'S PAPER BALLOTS AND WHEN WE NEED TO RECOUNT THEM THEY'RE RIGHT THERE, NOBODY CAN MESS WITH THEM.

>>MAGGIE: YOU ARE RIGHT.

>>LORENE: HOW MANY STATES HAVE PAPER BALLOTS?

>>MAGGIE: ALMOST ALL OF THE STATES IN THE COUNTRY NOW HAVE PAPER BALLOTS.

WE HAVE A HANDFUL THAT, YOU KNOW, A FEW JURISDICTIONS STILL DON'T.

YOU KNOW, LOUISIANA IS STILL TRYING TO GET THERE, I KNOW THEY ARE WORKING HARDER TO GET THERE.

BUT MOST STATES TO YOUR POINT, LORENE, HAVE RECOGNIZED THAT PAPER BALLOTS ARE THE WAY TO GO.

SOMETIMES THE LOW-TECH SOLUTION IS A SOLUTION TO A HIGH-TECH PROBLEM, RIGHT?

AND WE DO ALWAYS HAVE THOSE PAPER BALLOTS.

WE HAVE AUTOMATIC RECOUNT, WE HAVE POST ELECTIONS AUDITS, WE CAN DO ALL OF THESE THINGS TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR ELECTIONS ARE ACCURATE.

>>LORENE: SO UNDERLYING OUR WHOLE CONVERSATION TODAY IS TELLING PEOPLE, TELLING VOTERS, WHY THEY SHOULD VOTE, BECAUSE THERE IS A LOT OF APATHY AND TURNOUT HAS BEEN PRETTY LOW, AS A MATTER OF FACT, I HAVE SOME FIGURES HERE THAT ONLY A QUARTER OF THE ELIGIBLE VOTERS IN THE COUNTY, THIS COUNTY, TURN OUT AND IT INCREASED IN 2019 TO 24 PERCENT, THAT WAS IN 2021 AND IT WAS A MAYORAL RACE.

BUT LESS THAN A QUARTER OF THE ELIGIBLE VOTERS ARE VOTING, SO TELL US WHY IT IS SO IMPORTANT.

>>MAGGIE: WELL AND TO YOUR POINT, THIS IS EXACTLY WHY THE LEGISLATURE IN ITS WISDOM AND WITH THE SUPPORT OF ELECTION OFFICIALS, LIKE MYSELF AND COUNTY CLERKS, REALLY URGE THE LEGISLATURE TO COMBINE ALL OF THESE SMALLER NON-PARTISAN ELECTIONS.

WE ALWAYS HAVE AN ELECTION NOW IN NEW MEXICO EVERY NOVEMBER.

>>LORENE: YES.

>>MAGGIE: SO WITHOUT FAIL, RIGHT?

AND IN THESE ODD NUMBERED YEARS LIKE THIS YEAR, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE TRADITIONALLY SEEN THAT LOWER TURNOUT IN CITY RACES, SCHOOL RACES.

ONE OF THE MAIN REASONS WE DECIDED TO CONSOLIDATE ALL OF THESE RACES IS WE HAD A SCHOOL BOARD ELECTION A FEW YEARS BACK IN A SMALL SCHOOL DISTRICT WHERE NO PEOPLE TURNED OUT TO VOTE, NOT EVEN THE CANDIDATES FOR SCHOOL BOARD.

SO WE ARE IMPROVING THAT TURNOUT AS WE GO, BUT THESE YOU KNOW, NON-PARTISAN ELECTIONS IN THE ODD NUMBERED YEARS ARE JUST AS IMPORTANT IF NOT MORE VITALLY IMPORTANT, THAN SAY PRESIDENT OR CONGRESS BECAUSE SCHOOL BOARDS, CITY COUNCILS, HOSPITAL TAX DISTRICTS, THESE ARE MAKING DECISIONS THAT AFFECT US EVERY SINGLE DAY IN OUR COMMUNITIES WHERE WE LIVE, IN OUR POCKETBOOKS, THE SERVICES THAT ARE PROVIDED TO US WHETHER OR NOT WE GET TRASH OR CLEAN WATER DELIVERY, ETC., ETC.

SO IT IS EVEN MORE IMPORTANT THAN EVER TO VOTE IN THESE RACES THAT ARE ON THE BALLOT THIS NOVEMBER.

>>LORENE: WELL, SO, I JUST WANT PEOPLE TO KNOW THAT THEY CAN GO VISIT NMVOTE.ORG AND YOU CAN REQUEST AN ABSENTEE BALLOT THERE, YOU CAN GET YOUR SAMPLE BALLOT, THERE IS A FORM, YOU FILL OUT YOUR NAME, YOUR COUNTY, AND YOU CAN CLICK ON YOUR OWN PERSONAL SAMPLE BALLOT.

I WAS QUITE SURPRISED BECAUSE I LIVE IN SANTA FE, I LIVE IN SANTA FE COUNTY AND THERE WAS A BIG ARTICLE IN THE PAPER ABOUT WHAT YOU ARE VOTING ON THIS ELECTION, OH MY GOD, YOU KNOW, MILLIONAIRE TAX, PROVIDE FOR THE HOMELESS AND ALL THESE WONDERFUL THINGS.

THEN I WENT TO MY OWN BALLOT LIVING IN THE COUNTY AND THAT STUFF WASN'T ON THERE AND THAT IS ONLY BECAUSE OF THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN CITY AND COUNTY.

>>MAGGIE: RIGHT.

>>LORENE: I AM HAPPY TO LIVE IN THE COUNTY AND WE ARE WELL REPRESENTED AND THEY WERE VERY IMPORTANT FUNDING FOR SCHOOL BONDS ON THERE, MILLIONS, HUGE, MILLIONS OF DOLLARS.

SO YOU HAVE TO LOOK AT THOSE AND ALSO WHEN YOU SEE YOUR SAMPLE BALLOT ONLINE, YOU CAN READ THE LONG BOND THINGS AT YOUR LEISURE.

>>MAGGIE: THAT'S RIGHT.

>>LORENE: AND THINK ABOUT AND TALK TO YOU FRIENDS AND EDUCATORS, ESPECIALLY WITH THE SCHOOL BONDS ABOUT WHAT THEY THINK AND WHAT IS GOING ON.

SO I AM JUST VERY GRATEFUL FOR THE ACCESS TO THIS INFORMATION, THANK YOU.

>>MAGGIE: NO, ABSOLUTELY, NMVOTE.ORG IS ABSOLUTELY EVERY SINGLE VOTER'S DIRECT FIGHT FOR EVERY PIECE OF INFORMATION RELEVANT TO VOTING IN ANY ELECTION, IN THIS COMING ELECTION THIS NOVEMBER.

THE SAMPLE BALLOT, I AM THE SAME WAY, YOU KNOW, I AM SO RELATIVELY NEW TO SANTA FE, I HAVE LIVED HERE FOR ALMOST SEVEN YEARS, SO I ALWAYS PRINT OUT MY BALLOT.

THERE IS ALWAYS RACES OR BALLOT QUESTIONS THAT I NEED TO MAKE SURE I EDUCATE MYSELF ON BEFORE I VOTE.

YOU CAN FIND OUT, YOU CAN APPLY FOR AN ABSENTEE BALLOT, YOU CAN DO ALL SORTS OF THINGS, FIND THE NEAREST PLACE TO VOTE EARLY.

SO, THAT IS A TOOL THAT I WANT TO ENCOURAGE EVERY VOTER IN THE STATE, BECAUSE NO MATTER WHERE YOU LIVE IN THE STATE, YOU ARE GOING TO HAVE SOMETHING TO VOTE ON IN THIS UPCOMING ELECTION IN NOVEMBER AND LIKE YOU SAID, YOU LIVE IN THE COUNTY, YOU MAY HAVE FEWER OPPOSITES TO VOTE FOR THAN I DO LIVING IN THE CITY OF SANTA FE, BUT THERE IS SOMETHING FOR EVERY VOTER IN THE STATE.

>>LORENE: ABSOLUTELY AND IT IS REALLY GOOD TO KNOW, THIS IS A HUGE AMOUNT OF MONEY.

>>MAGGIE: YES.

>>LORENE: THESE BONDS AND FOR EDUCATION AND HIGH-TECH EQUIPMENT FOR SCHOOLS AND STUFF, BUT YOU HAVE TO READ IT VERY, VERY CAREFULLY.

>>MAGGIE: YES.

>>LORENE: SO DO THEY STILL PUT OUT VOTER'S GUIDE FOR THIS LOCAL ELECTION OR IS THAT MOSTLY FOR THE NEXT ONE WHERE THE MAYOR WILL BE RUNNING AND OTHER BIGGER RACES?

>>MAGGIE: WE WORK VERY CLOSELY WITH THE LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS.

LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS PUTS OUT A VOTER GUIDE FOR EVERY SINGLE ELECTION.

THERE ARE CERTAIN ELECTIONS THAT WE ALSO PROVIDE A SUPPLEMENTAL GUIDE, SO NEXT YEAR WHEN WE HAVE STATEWIDE BOND QUESTIONS AND CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS, WE WILL PUBLISH THAT GUIDE ON OUR WEBSITE.

BUT THIS YEAR I URGE FOLKS TO VISIT VOTE411.COM.

>>LORENE: DOT ORG.

>>MAGGIE: OH I AM SORRY.

VOTE411.ORG.

WELL, YOU KNOW, IT PROBABLY WOULD BE REDIRECTED, BUT... >>LORENE: YEAH, YEAH.

>>MAGGIE: THE LEAGUE OF WOMEN'S VOTERS GUIDE IS VERY COMPREHENSIVE.

EVERY CANDIDATE, EVERY RACE IN THE STATE, EVERY QUESTION ON THE BALLOT WILL BE LISTED THERE.

>>LORENE: WELL, THEY DO SUCH A SERVICE FOR US, IT IS JUST GREAT.

I ALWAYS DO ALL THE RESEARCH AND THEY ARE ABSOLUTELY NON-PARTISAN.

>>MAGGIE: YES, THEY ARE.

>>LORENE: THEY ASK THE CANDIDATE THEMSELVES THE QUESTIONS AND THEY PRINT WITHOUT EDITING OR REARRANGING.

>>MAGGIE: RIGHT.

>>LORENE: EXACTLY WHAT THE CANDIDATE SAYS.

>>MAGGIE: EXACTLY.

>>LORENE: AND SO THAT IS REALLY, ABSOLUTELY IMPORTANT TO KNOW.

SO, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I AM CONCERNED ABOUT, WE TALKED ABOUT TURNOUT, BUT WHAT ARE SOME OTHER WAYS TO ENGAGE PEOPLE IN VOTING, I MEAN IT'S THEIR POCKETBOOK.

>>MAGGIE: RIGHT.

>>LORENE: IT IS EXACTLY WHAT THEIR TAX MONEY IS GOING FOR.

>>MAGGIE: RIGHT, EXACTLY.

>>LORENE: AND ALSO THERE IS SOME IDEOLOGICAL ISSUES, TOO, THAT CERTAIN GROUPS ARE OPPOSED TO OR IN FAVOR OF, SO ALL OF THAT.

BUT ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I READ ABOUT THE INCREASING TURNOUT, A YOUNG MAN NAMED ZACHARY ROTH OF SOURCE OF NEW MEXICO SAID, "STATES THAT SEND A MAIL BALLOT TO EVERY VOTER REALLY DO INCREASE TURNOUT SCHOLARS FIND."

SO I WANT TO SAY HOSANA AND HURRAY FOR MY COUNTY CLERK, SHE JUST SENT OUT THIS LITTLE THING SAYING, "YOU KNOW VOTING IS COMING UP AND HERE ARE ALL THE DATES," AND I JUST FELT SO INVITED TO VOTE, NOT THAT I HAVE EVER MISSED AN ELECTION.

AND I VOTE IN PERSON, I GET TEARY EYED AND I GOT MY "I VOTED" STICKER.

BUT ANYWAY IT IS SUCH A NICE OUTREACH FROM THE COUNTY CLERKS.

NOW, SHOULD WE TALK ABOUT THE DATES NOW, BECAUSE I THINK IT IS VERY IMPORTANT.

TODAY, THE VERY DAY WE ARE DOING THE TAPING, OCTOBER 10, IS THE FIRST DAY OF EARLY VOTING FOR THE NOVEMBER ELECTION.

>>MAGGIE: YES, WE ARE IN THE PIPELINE, VOTING IS HAPPENING AS WE SPEAK, AS WE ARE TALKING, TUESDAY THE 10TH IS THE FIRST DAY OF EARLY VOTING AND THAT WILL RUN THROUGH THE SATURDAY BEFORE ELECTION DAY WHICH IS SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 4.

SO THERE WILL BE PLENTY OF OPPORTUNITIES TO VOTE IN PERSON AND EARLY.

I WILL MENTION REALLY QUICKLY YOU MENTIONED THE NOTICE TO ALL REGISTERED VOTERS, EVERY REGISTERED VOTER IN THE STATE SHOULD CHECK THEIR MAILBOX, THAT IS WHERE YOU WILL GET THAT NOTICE.

IT WILL LIST ALL OF THIS INFORMATION AND THANK YOU TO OUR STATE LEGISLATURE, THEY PASSED LEGISLATION THIS LAST YEAR SAYING, HEY, GUESS WHAT WE DO HAVE TO NOTIFY EVERY VOTER AHEAD OF AN ELECTION, NOT ONLY THAT THE ELECTION IS COMING BUT ALL OF THE DIFFERENT WAYS YOU CAN CAST YOUR BALLOT AND WHAT THE DATES ARE.

SO WE WILL HAVE PLENTY OF EARLY VOTING THROUGH THAT SATURDAY, THE 4TH AND FOLKS STILL HAVE PLENTY OF TIME TO APPLY FOR AN ABSENTEE BALLOT THROUGH THE MAIL.

THAT IS HOW I VOTE NOW, IT IS JUST SO CONVENIENT AND EASY TO VOTE FROM HOME AND TAKE MY TIME WITH MY BALLOT AND ON THAT NMVOTE.ORG WEBSITE, YOU CAN APPLY FOR YOUR ABSENTEE BALLOT TO BE MAILED TO YOU THERE AS WELL.

>>LORENE: AND IT CAN GO TO YOU ANYWHERE.

>>MAGGIE: ABSOLUTELY.

YOU COULD BE IN ANTARCTICA, YOU KNOW IT MIGHT TAKE A LITTLE WHILE AND THAT IS WHY WE GIVE A LITTLE EXTRA TIME FOR OVERSEAS BALLOTS.

>>LORENE: WE WILL ALSO TALK ABOUT THAT, BECAUSE PEOPLE GET THE BALLOT, THEY LOOK AT IT, THEY THINK I'LL DO THIS LATER.

>>MAGGIE: YES.

>>LORENE: THERE ARE CERTAIN DEADLINES FOR GETTING IT BACK IN.

>>MAGGIE: THAT IS RIGHT.

WE DO HAVE TO RECEIVE, I ENCOURAGE VOTERS TO PUT THAT BALLOT IN THE MAIL TWO WEEKS BEFORE ELECTION DAY WHICH IS NOVEMBER 7.

BUT HERE IS THE THING, IN EVERY COUNTY IN THE STATE NOW, WE HAVE THOSE DROP BOXES, THOSE MONITORS, THOSE SECURE CONTAINERS.

THEY ARE VIDEO MONITORED 24/7, THEY ARE TAMPER PROOF AND IF YOU PUT YOUR BALLOT IN THERE, EVEN ALL THE WAY UP TO 6:59 ON ELECTION DAY, IT WILL GET BACK TO YOUR COUNTY CLERK'S OFFICE.

>>LORENE: OH MY GOODNESS, THAT'S WONDERFUL.

>>MAGGIE: YES.

>>LORENE: THAT'S WONDERFUL.

WELL YOU DO BEND OVER BACKWARDS TO NOTIFY.

I MEAN, TO ME, GETTING THIS NOTICE FROM MY COUNTY CLERK IT WAS LIKE, IT WAS JUST SUCH A LOVELY INVITATION AND SO WHAT I LOVE IS THE INTERCHANGE THAT YOU HAVE.

THERE ARE SO MANY PEOPLE, SO MANY WAYS THAT VOTERS CAN INTERACT WITH THE SECRETARY OF STATE'S OFFICE.

>>MAGGIE: WELL I THINK TO YOUR POINT, LORENE, YOU KNOW, OUR SOCIETY HAS CHANGED.

YOU KNOW PEOPLE ARE WORKING, THEY ARE TAKING CARE OF CHILDREN, FAMILY MEMBERS, THEY ARE ATTENDING MEETINGS, THEY ARE TAKING KIDS TO TEAM SPORTS AND AFTER SCHOOL ACTIVITIES.

IT IS REALLY HARD IN THIS DAY AND AGE TO BE AT A CERTAIN PLACE AT A CERTAIN TIME ON A CERTAIN DAY.

SO WE HAVE TO ACCOMMODATE THE VOTERS AND WHAT WORKS FOR THEM AND YOU KNOW WHAT WORKS FOR ONE VOTER DOES NOT NECESSARILY WORK FOR ANOTHER.

SO THAT IS WHY WE PROVIDE SO MANY DIFFERENT OPPORTUNITIES AND OPTIONS FOR CASTING YOUR BALLOT IN THE STATE.

>>LORENE: WELL WE ARE SPEAKING TODAY WITH NEW MEXICO'S SECRETARY OF STATE, MAGGIE TOULOUSE OLIVER.

THERE ARE A LOT OF CHALLENGES THAT HAVE GOTTEN A LOT OF ATTENTION AND A LOT OF CONCERN FROM VOTERS.

ELECTION SECURITY IS ONE.

>>MAGGIE: YES.

>>LORENE: MISINFORMATION, THE USE OF ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE.

>>MAGGIE: YEAH.

>>LORENE: EVEN THINGS LIKE THE CHALLENGES TO FORMER PRESIDENT TRUMP'S ELIGIBILITY.

HE NOW HAS BEEN CHARGED WITH CITING AN INSURRECTION, DOES IT GO STATE BY STATE WHEN PEOPLE DECIDE WHETHER HE WILL BE ON THE BALLOT OR NOT OR IS IT FEDERAL?

>>MAGGIE: WELL, IN TERMS OF BALLOT ACCESS FOR ANY PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE THAT IS DETERMINED ON A STATE-BY-STATE BASIS, WHAT ARE THE REQUIREMENTS TO GET ON THE BALLOT, THEY ARE NOT THE SAME IN EVERY STATE.

IN TERMS OF THE FOURTEENTH AMENDMENT QUESTION, MY POSITION IS THAT IT IS NOT MY JOB TO UNILATERALLY MAKE THAT DECISION, THERE IS A COURT DECISION THAT NEEDS TO HAPPEN.

NOW, OF COURSE, HE IS GOING THROUGH HIS DUE PROCESS, WE WILL SEE WHAT THE OUTCOME OF THESE VARIOUS FEDERAL AND STATE CHARGES ARE IN REGARD TO HIS ACTIVITIES.

BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY IN THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO AS TO HIS ELIGIBILITY FOR THE BALLOT, WE WON'T HAVE FILING FOR PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATES UNTIL FEBRUARY OF NEXT YEAR.

IF THIS PROCESS HAS WORKED ITS WAY THROUGH THE COURTS AND I FULLY ANTICIPATE, WHETHER HE IS ELIGIBLE OR NOT, FOR THERE TO BE COURT CHALLENGES, THE COURTS WILL TELL MY OFFICE.

>>LORENE: OH NICE.

>>MAGGIE: HE IS ELIGIBLE OR HE IS NOT TO BE PLACED ON THE BALLOT HERE IN NEW MEXICO.

>>LORENE: ANOTHER VERY TROUBLING DEVELOPMENT IS THE THREATS AGAINST ELECTION WORKERS AND POLL WATCHERS.

>>MAGGIE: YES.

>>LORENE: AND TO THINK THAT PEOPLE CAN GET DEATH THREATS JUST FOR STANDING FOR DEMOCRACY.

>>MAGGIE: RIGHT.

>>LORENE: FORMER MAYOR RUDY GUILIANI HAD LIED AND BY NAME NAMED TWO ELECTION WORKERS, A MOTHER AND DAUGHTER, WHO WORKED FOR THE SECRETARY OF STATE'S OFFICE IN GEORGIA, AND THEY WERE TERRIFIED.

THEY HAD TO GO UNDERGROUND, THEY COULDN'T GO OUT AND UNTIL IT TURNED OUT IN COURT, THEY FOUND HIM GUILTY OF LIBEL.

BUT YOU DON'T GET YOUR LIFE BACK, THEY NEVER WENT OUT IN PUBLIC AGAIN.

>>MAGGIE: RIGHT.

>>LORENE: THEY DIDN'T GIVE THEIR NAME ANYWHERE, EVEN ORDERING A STARBUCKS THEY DIDN'T DARE GIVE THEIR NAME BECAUSE THEY HAVE BEEN TERRIFIED.

>>MAGGIE: YEAH.

>>LORENE: SO, HOW CAN YOU PROTECT YOUR PEOPLE?

>>MAGGIE: WELL, IT'S TRAGIC WHAT HAS HAPPENED TO THOSE TWO LADIES AND TO PEOPLE ACROSS THE COUNTRY AND I, AS YOU KNOW, WE HAVE TALKED BEFORE, LORENE, I AND MY COLLEAGUES AROUND THE COUNTRY HAVE RECEIVED THREATS AND IT GOES FROM THE TOP ALL THE WAY DOWN TO AS YOU SAY, THE LOCAL POLL WORKERS BECAUSE FOLKS, THE BOTTOM LINE IS THAT PEOPLE ARE SO UNHAPPY ABOUT THE OUTCOME OF THE 2020 ELECTION.

AND I UNDERSTAND THAT, I HAVE BEEN UNHAPPY WITH THE OUTCOME OF MANY ELECTIONS IN MY LIFETIME, BUT, YOU KNOW, THE NOTION THAT IT IS OKAY TO THREATEN AND TO INTIMIDATE AND HARASS PEOPLE WHO ARE JUST DOING THE JOB OF MAKING SURE DEMOCRACY WORKS IS NOT OKAY.

SO HERE IN NEW MEXICO, AGAIN, THANKS TO OUR LEGISLATURE BECAUSE WE PASSED A GREAT PIECE OF LEGISLATION THIS YEAR IN 2023, THAT INCREASES PENALTIES FOR HARASSMENT AND INTIMIDATE AND THREATS OF VIOLENCE AGAINST ELECTION OFFICIALS AT ALL LEVELS HERE IN NEW MEXICO.

SO IF YOU ARE GOING TO TRY THAT NONSENSE, YOU ARE GOING TO GET INTO SOME SERIOUS TROUBLE AND WE HOPE THAT THAT ACTS AS A SERIOUS PREVENTATIVE MECHANISM TO KEEP PEOPLE FROM DOING SUCH EGREGIOUS BEHAVIOR.

>>LORENE: ONE OF THE REALLY TACKY THINGS THAT GUILIANI DID WAS HE ACCUSED ONE OF THEM OF HANDING THE OTHER ONE A HARD DRIVE WITH ALL THE STOLEN INFORMATION AND IT WAS A BREATH MINT.

YOU KNOW, WE HAVE JUST GONE MAD, BUT SO THE EFFECTS OF THE BIG LIE CONTINUE BECAUSE NOW THANKS TO THE TRUMP EXAMPLE VOTERS CAN JUST SAY, "NO, I REALLY WON AND SO I AM NOT GOING TO ACCEPT THIS."

IT'S LIKE I DON'T KNOW HOW TO EXPUNGE.

>>MAGGIE: RIGHT.

>>LORENE: THE EFFECT OF THE BIG LIE ON OUR PROCESS BECAUSE OUR PROCESS HAS SO MANY SAFEGUARDS BUILT IN.

SO THE FALLOUT FROM THE 2020 ELECTIONS, WHERE ELECTIONS DISINFORMATION, INTIMIDATION THREATS, AND THE FAKE ELECTORS.

>>MAGGIE: YEAH.

>>LORENE: OKAY, SO, I HAVE A QUESTION FOR YOU, SO IN DECEMBER 2020, WHEN NEW MEXICO'S FIVE ELECTORAL VOTES WERE AWARDED TO BIDEN, DID THE REPUBLICANS COME TO THE CAPITOL AND PRESENT THEMSELVES AS ELECTORS?

>>MAGGIE: WELL, THEY DIDN'T MAKE IT TO THE CAPITOL FOR A COUPLE OF REASONS.

NUMBER ONE, THE CAPITAL WAS CLOSED, WE STILL HAD COVID RESTRICTIONS IN PLACE SO NOBODY WAS ALLOWED INSIDE UNLESS THEY HAD AN OFFICIAL REASON TO BE THERE.

I DID RECEIVE A TEXT MESSAGE FROM THE THEN EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE REPUBLICAN PARTY ASKING IF THEIR ELECTORS COULD COME IN AND PARTICIPATE IN THE PROCESS AND I VERY POLITELY REFUSED FOR LEGAL REASONS.

BUT THERE WAS THAT ATTEMPT MADE AND AS YOU KNOW, WE'VE ALL READ IN THE PAPERS THEY DID GO AHEAD AND PREPARE A FALSIFIED DOCUMENT SUPPOSEDLY IN CASE THINGS CHANGED, IN CASE THE COURT RULED.

>>LORENE: THAT'S THE THING I WANT TO KNOW.

DID THEY IN THEIR REQUEST, DID THEY HAVE AN ESCAPE PHRASE LIKE, "IN CASE WE SHOULD BE NEEDED, THIS IS OUR SLATE."

>>MAGGIE: NEW MEXICO WAS, I BELIEVE, THE ONLY OTHER STATE OTHER THAN PENNSYLVANIA WHERE THEY DID DO THAT.

SO THAT'S TO THE BEST OF MY KNOWLEDGE AT THIS POINT THE QUESTIONS IN THE CASE ARE AT THE HANDS OF BOTH OUR STATE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S OFFICE AND OUR FEDERAL PROSECUTOR'S, OUR US ATTORNEY'S OFFICE.

SO WE WILL SEE WHERE THAT GOES.

>>LORENE: OUR THEY BEING PROSECUTED?

>>MAGGIE: NOT TO MY KNOWLEDGE CURRENTLY.

>>LORENE: BECAUSE THEY HAD THAT THING IN CASE WE NEED IT.

OTHER ONES IN OTHER STATES HAVE BEEN PROSECUTED.

>>MAGGIE: RIGHT.

BUT TO MY KNOWLEDGE, IT IS STILL BEING LOOKED INTO AND INVESTIGATED.

I HAVEN'T BEEN TOLD YOU KNOW WE ARE DONE WITH THIS PROCESS AND THERE IS NOTHING WE CAN DO, I HAVEN'T BEEN TOLD THAT YET.

>>LORENE: IT IS CRAZY.

SO, OF COURSE, WE HAVE THE NAMES OF THE FAKE ELECTORS HERE, THEY ARE ALL REALLY PROMINENT, RESPECTED, DISTINGUISHED REPUBLICANS.

IT JUST SEEMED TO ME, CONSIDERING THEIR EXPERIENCE AND THEIR INTEGRITY, THAT THEY SHOULD NOT HAVE SIGNED ON, YOU KNOW, IT MAKES THEM LOOK, YOU KNOW, MAYBE TRYING TO TAKE ADVANTAGE.

>>MAGGIE: RIGHT.

>>LORENE: BUT THESE ARE PEOPLE, HIGH DEGREE, I LIKE THEM, BUT I JUST WOULDN'T WANT TO BE A FAKE ELECTOR.

>>MAGGIE: NO, I WISH THEY HADN'T ALSO.

AND I THINK, TOO, IT WAS JUST TOO COINCIDENTAL THAT ON THAT VERY DAY, YOU KNOW, A LAWSUIT CHALLENGING THE LEGALITY OF THE ELECTION HERE IN NEW MEXICO WHICH PRESIDENT BIDEN WON BY 100,000 VOTES WAS FILED.

SO YOU TIE IT ALL TOGETHER AND YOU SEE THE PATTERN AND YOU SEE THAT THIS WAS AN EFFORT TO UNDERMINE OUR DEMOCRACY.

>>LORENE: SO OUR JOB IS TO EDUCATE THE ELECTORATE AND WE DO THAT BY PROVIDING ALL THE INFORMATION ABOUT YOU KNOW WHERE THEY VOTE, HOW TO GET A SAMPLE BALLOT, ALL THE DATES THAT ALL THE DIFFERENT KIND, BUT THERE IS ALSO A DEEPER FORM OF EDUCATION WHICH IS VOTING AND DEMOCRACY.

SO THEY ALWAYS SAY, "YOUR VOTE IS YOUR VOICE."

>>MAGGIE: RIGHT.

>>LORENE: AND SO CAN YOU CALL OUT TO THE VOTERS AND ENCOURAGE THEM TO TAKE THE TIME TO DO THESE STEPS AND TO TRY TO GET A TURNOUT, YOU KNOW WE WILL TRY TO "TAYLOR SWIFT" THIS AND GET MORE VOTERS.

>>MAGGIE: SURE AND I WOULD SAY TO VOTERS IN THE BEAUTIFUL STATE OF NEW MEXICO, YOU KNOW WE HAVE SO MANY WONDERFUL THINGS ABOUT OUR STATE AND SO MANY CHALLENGES.

IT IS THE FOLKS WHO ARE ON THE BALLOT AND THESE QUESTIONS ON THE BALLOT THAT ARE GOING TO DETERMINE OUR FUTURE HERE IN NEW MEXICO.

WHEN I GO ON MY NEXT DOOR APP OR WHEN I LOOK ON FACEBOOK ON OUR LOCAL COMMUNITY BILLBOARD, I AM ALWAYS SEEING QUESTIONS AND CONCERNS ABOUT, YOU KNOW, WHAT'S GOING ON IN OUR HOME COMMUNITY, RIGHT?

THAT'S WHERE LITERALLY IT HITS HOME FOR US AND THESE POLICY DECISIONS ARE BEING MADE BY FOLKS ON THE BALLOTS THIS NOVEMBER.

SO EVEN IF YOU HAVE NEVER VOTED BEFORE, YOU'VE NEVER THOUGHT ABOUT VOTING IN A CITY ELECTION, WELL, IF YOU WANT TO HAVE THE MOST BANG FOR YOUR BUCK FOR A VOTE THAT YOU HAVE EVER TAKEN IN YOUR LIFE, VOTE IN THIS ELECTION ON NOVEMBER 7, 2023, BY VISITING NMVOTE.ORG AND GETTING ALL THE INFORMATION.

>>LORENE: GREAT AND WE DID GIVE THEM THE DATES.

THE OTHER ISSUE THAT I WOULD LIKE YOU TO EXPLAIN TO ME BECAUSE PEOPLE ARE REALLY CONFUSED ABOUT IT, WHAT IS RANK CHOICE VOTING AND HOW DOES IT WORK, DO YOU LIKE IT, ARE YOU IN FAVOR OF IT?

>>MAGGIE: I AM A FAN ESPECIALLY IN THESE ELECTIONS THAT ARE LOCAL AND NON-PARTISAN WHERE WE HAVE MULTIPLE CANDIDATES RUNNING FOR AN OFFICE.

SO RANK CHOICE VOTING IS AVAILABLE IN SANTA FE, NEW MEXICO AND LAS CRUCES, NEW MEXICO.

AND INSTEAD OF JUST PICKING ONE CANDIDATE, YOU CAN GO AND CHOOSE AN ORDER OF PREFERENCE, SO IF YOU LIKE X CANDIDATE FOR MAYOR, THE BEST YOU RANK THEM NUMBER ONE AND Y CANDIDATE YOU LIKE THEM SECOND BEST, CHECK NUMBER TWO.

AND WHAT HAPPENS IS ALL OF THE FIRST CHOICE VOTES THAT CANDIDATE WILL MOVE ON TO THE NEXT ROUND AND WE KEEP MOVING ON.

IF YOUR FIRST CHOICE CANDIDATE DOESN'T MAKE IT, THEN YOUR SECOND CHOICE CANDIDATE MOVES ON.

AND WHAT WE END UP WITH IS CANDIDATES WHO ARE ELECTED KIND OF BY CONSENSUS AND PREFERENCE RATHER THAN JUST GETTING THE MOST VOTES.

YOU KNOW, LAS CRUCES, IN THE LAST MAYORAL ELECTION, WE HAD 11 CANDIDATES FOR MAYOR.

SO CAN YOU IMAGINE IF IT HAD JUST BEEN THE MOST VOTES, WE COULD HAVE HAD A CANDIDATE ELECTED BY 11 PERCENT OF THE VOTE.

THAT IS NOT A CONSENSUS, SO BY USING RANK CHOICE, WE FIND THE CANDIDATES WHO HAVE THE MOST PREFERENCE AMONG THE POPULATION.

OR, IF YOU ARE A VOTER WHO JUST WANTS TO VOTE FOR THEIR CANDIDATE PERIOD, END OF STORY, YOU CAN DO THAT, TOO.

>>LORENE: YEAH, YEAH.

IN THOSE COMMUNITIES DO YOU HAVE AN OUTREACH TO TRY TO EXPLAIN THIS TO PEOPLE OR ARTICLES IN THE PAPER, I DID LOOK AT YOUR WEBSITE, I DIDN'T LOOK FOR THAT.

>>MAGGIE: OUR COUNTY CLERKS IN SANTE FE COUNTY AND DONA ANA COUNTY DO AN ABSOLUTELY AMAZING JOB OF LETTING THE VOTERS KNOW IN THEIR COMMUNITIES HOW THIS WORKS.

AND IF RANK CHOICE VOTING ENDS UP GETTING EXPANDED TO OTHER RACES OR COMMUNITIES, WE WILL WORK WITH THOSE AS WELL TO DO THAT VOTER INFORMATION.

>>LORENE: I WANT TO PUT OUT ANOTHER PITCH FOR THE SAMPLE BALLOT THING BECAUSE I WAS SO SURPRISED WHEN I LOOKED UP MINE AND HOW MUCH THE DIFFERENT JURISDICTIONS, HOW MUCH DIFFERENCE THERE IS.

>>MAGGIE: YES.

>>LORENE: SO IF YOU ARE READING IN THE PAPER THAT YOU CAN VOTE ON ALL THIS STUFF AND WHEN YOU GO THERE, IT IS NOT.

SO HAVING A SAMPLE BALLOT WHICH YOU CAN GET ONLINE, YOU CAN READ THOSE LONG BOND THINGS, YOU CAN READ THE CONTROVERSIAL ELEMENTS AND YOU CAN BE AN INFORMED VOTER.

>>MAGGIE: AND GET IT NOW AND GET IT TODAY AND EVEN IF YOU GO INTO EARLY VOTE OR VOTE IN PERSON, YOU CAN BRING THAT IN WITH YOU.

YOU CAN MARK IT UP HOW YOU WANT TO SO YOU HAVE YOUR OWN PERSONAL GUIDE.

SO IT IS SUPER EASY AGAIN AT NMVOTE.ORG TO GET THAT SAMPLE BALLOT.

>>LORENE: SO IT IS NOT A CHEAT SHEET, IT IS JUST A REMINDER.

>>MAGGIE: A REMINDER, EXACTLY.

>>LORENE: WELL THAT'S A REALLY GOOD IDEA.

>>MAGGIE: YEAH.

>>LORENE: BECAUSE THE PEOPLE WHO COME IN JUST COLD AND GET THE BALLOT, THEY ARE STANDING THERE FOR A LONG TIME TRYING TO READ THESE LONG, PARTICULARLY THE BONDS, AND SOME OF THE EDUCATION BONDS HAVE MILLIONS.

>>MAGGIE: AND THEY ARE COMPLICATED.

SO ALWAYS GET THAT SAMPLE BALLOT FIRST.

>>LORENE: GOOD, GOOD.

LET'S REMIND EVERYBODY HOW TO GET ALL THIS INFORMATION.

OKAY.

>>MAGGIE: NMVOTE.ORG, APPLY FOR AN ABSENTEE BALLOT, GET YOUR SAMPLE BALLOT.

REMIND YOURSELF WHERE YOU ARE REGISTERED TO VOTE, YOU KNOW ESPECIALLY IF YOU HAVE MOVED RECENTLY.

WHAT DISTRICTS ARE YOU REGISTERED IN, WHERE CAN YOU VOTE.

EARLY VOTING, ELECTION DAY VOTING, WHERE CAN YOU DROP OFF YOUR BALLOT?

ALL OF THAT INFORMATION IS AVAILABLE AT NMVOTE.ORG.

>>LORENE: WELL, ONE THING THAT YOU HAVE DONE SO WELL IS TO DO THE OUTREACH TO THE VOTERS.

AND EVEN MY LITTLE NOTE FROM MY COUNTY CLERK WAS SO NICE.

YES, WE KNOW YOU ARE OUT THERE, HOW CAN WE HELP YOU?

THESE ARE ALL THE DATES, THESE ARE THE SOURCES TO GET MORE INFORMATION.

SO I JUST REALLY WANT TO THANK YOU.

AND I KNOW THAT YOU WORK SO HARD AT THIS, THERE IS NO DOWN TIME FOR YOU.

>>MAGGIE: NO.

>>LORENE: THIS YEAR IN EARLY VOTING YOU ARE GOING TO BE PEDAL TO THE METAL AND UP UNTIL REAL ELECTION DAY, NOVEMBER 7.

AND BY THE WAY THE LAST DATE FOR EARLY VOTING IS THE FOURTH, WHICH IS THE SATURDAY BEFORE.

>>MAGGIE: THAT'S CORRECT.

>>LORENE: AND THEN MAILING THESE THINGS.

IF YOU HAVE ONE, DO NOT SIT AROUND WITH YOUR THUMBS TWIDDLING AND LOOK FOR IT AT THE LAST MINUTE AND THEN NOT GET TO MAIL IT, BECAUSE YOUR VOTE IS YOUR VOICE.

SO, OUR GUEST TODAY IS OUR WONDERFUL NEW MEXICO SECRETARY OF STATE, MAGGIE TOULOUSE OLIVER.

THANK YOU FOR SO MUCH YOU ARE DOING FOR THE VOTERS OF NEW MEXICO.

>>MAGGIE: AND THANK YOU, LORENE, AS ALWAYS FOR HELPING US TO GET THE INFO OUT.

>>LORENE: WELL, I THINK PEOPLE WANT TO KNOW.

>>MAGGIE: THEY DO.

>>LORENE: THEY DO NOT WISH TO BE IGNORANT, THEY WANT THEIR VOTE TO COUNT AND THIS IS THE WAY THAT THEY CAN DO IT.

>>MAGGIE: ABSOLUTELY.

>>LORENE: THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>>MAGGIE: THANK YOU.

>>LORENE: AND I AM LORENE MILLS, I WOULD LIKE TO THANK YOU, OUR AUDIENCE, FOR BEING WITH US TODAY ON REPORT FROM SANTA FE .

REPORT FROM SANTA FE IS MADE POSSIBLE, IN PART, BY GRANTS FROM THE NEW MEXICO MUNICIPAL LEAGUE, A BETTER NEW MEXICO THROUGH BETTER CITIES AND FROM