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 >>LORENE: HELLO, I AM LORENE MILLS AND WELCOME TO REPORT FROM SANTA FE .

WE HAVE A VERY IMPORTANT AND TIMELY SHOW TODAY WITH NEW MEXICO SECRETARY OF STATE, MAGGIE TOULOUSE OLIVER, THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

>>MAGGIE: THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME, ALWAYS A PLEASURE TO BE WITH YOU LORENE.

>>LORENE: IT'S ALWAYS A PLEASURE FOR ME TOO.

SO, YOU HAVE BEEN SECRETARY OF STATE SINCE 2016 AND YOU ARE THE CHIEF ELECTIONS OFFICER IN THE STATE.

I WANT TO COMPLIMENT YOU, NEW MEXICO IS WELL KNOWN FOR HAVING EXCELLENT ELECTION INTEGRITY, WE USE PAPER BALLOTS THAT ARE NOT HACKABLE.

I THINK WE HAVE BEEN LISTED IN THE TOP TEN OF ALL STATES IN AMERICA FOR ELECTION INTEGRITY, BUT WE HAVE COMING UPON US A PRIMARY ELECTION ON JUNE 7.

SO, I JUST WANT TO GO OVER A COUPLE OF DATES THAT PEOPLE NEED TO KNOW.

SO, JUNE 2 IS THE LAST DAY TO REQUEST ABSENTEE BALLOTS AND MAGGIE WILL TELL YOU WHY THAT IS SO IMPORTANT IN JUST A MINUTE.

ON JUNE 4, EARLY VOTING ENDS AND THE PRIMARY, ITSELF, IF YOU CAN DO IN PERSON VOTING, IS ON JUNE 7.

SO, SECRETARY, WILL YOU TELL US ABOUT ABSENTEE VOTING AND WHAT ACCOMMODATIONS WE CAN MAKE FOR VOTERS WHO HAVE BEEN AFFECTED BY THE TERRIBLE WILDFIRES?

>>MAGGIE: SURE, ABSOLUTELY.

WELL, LORENE, AS YOU JUST SAID, WE ARE RUNNING AN ELECTION, A PRIMARY ELECTION, WHICH IS A VERY IMPORTANT ELECTION IN THE MIDST OF A CRISIS HERE IN OUR STATE.

SO MANY OF OUR FRIENDS, NEIGHBORS AND FAMILY MEMBERS HAVE HAD TO LEAVE THEIR HOMES AND BE RELOCATED OR ARE HAVING THEIR DAILY LIVES IMPACTED BY THE WILDFIRES UP HERE IN THE NORTHERN PART OF OUR STATE AND IN THE SOUTHWESTERN PART OF OUR STATE AS WELL AND SO OUR OFFICE IS WORKING VERY CLOSELY WITH OUR COUNTY CLERKS AND THE IMPACTED AREAS.

MORA COUNTY IN PARTICULAR, HAS HAD THE MOST SHIFTING AROUND TO DO, THEY HAD TO ACTUALLY RELOCATE TO WAGON MOUND TEMPORARILY, BUT I WANT TO MAKE SURE FOLKS KNOW THEY ARE BACK.

THEY HAVE BEEN ABLE TO GO BACK TO THEIR COUNTY CLERK'S OFFICE IN THE TOWN, IN THE VILLAGE OF MORA WHERE VOTING IS CONTINUING IN PERSON.

BUT TO YOUR POINT, BECAUSE THERE ARE SO MANY FOLKS THAT ARE NOT CURRENTLY STAYING WHERE THEY ACTUALLY LIVE, IN OTHER WORDS, THEY MAY BE AT A HOTEL SOMEWHERE, AN EVACUATION CENTER OR STAYING WITH FAMILY OR FRIENDS IN ANOTHER COUNTY, IT IS REALLY IMPORTANT FIRST OF ALL FOR FOLKS TO KNOW IF YOU WANT TO VOTE IN PERSON, YOU CAN ONLY DO THAT IN YOUR HOME COUNTY.

SO IF YOU ARE CURRENTLY NOT IN YOUR HOME COUNTY, WHAT I REALLY WANT FOLKS TO KNOW, IS THAT THERE IS STILL PLENTY OF TIME TO VOTE BY MAIL, TO REQUEST AN ABSENTEE BALLOT BY VISITING, NMVOTE.ORG TO APPLY FOR YOUR BALLOT ONLINE AND WHAT YOU NEED TO DO IS ASK FOR YOUR BALLOT TO BE SENT TO WHEREVER IT IS THAT YOU ARE STAYING.

A LOT OF FOLKS DON'T KNOW, IT DOESN'T MATTER IF YOU ARE NOT LIVING AT AN ADDRESS, IF YOU ARE CURRENTLY STAYING THERE AND CAN RECEIVE MAIL AT THAT ADDRESS, USE THAT ADDRESS TO RECEIVE YOUR BALLOT, COMPLETE THE BALLOT AND YOU MAY RETURN IT BY MAIL AS WELL.

>>LORENE: ONE LITTLE POINT THAT WE WANT TO MAKE REALLY CLEAR IS THAT THE BALLOT CAN BE SENT TO YOU ANYWHERE, BUT YOU WILL HAVE TO BE SURE THAT YOU'RE VOTING FOR THE COUNTY WHERE YOU ARE REGISTERED TO VOTE.

SO DON'T THINK, WELL, I AM STAYING IN ALBUQUERQUE, I'LL JUST DO BERNALILLO COUNTY'S BALLOT, NO.

IF YOU ARE FROM SAN MIGUEL COUNTY, I THINK SOME OF THE COUNTIES THAT HAVE BEEN PRIMARILY AFFECTED, SAN MIGUEL, LOS ALAMOS, SANDOVAL COUNTY AND THEN THE ONES DOWN SOUTH TOO, WITH THE BLACK FIRE.

JUST REMEMBER THAT YOU ARE VOTING AS IF YOU WERE AT HOME IN YOUR HOME COUNTY, BUT YOU CAN GET THAT BALLOT ANYWHERE AND IT IS VERY IMPORTANT.

SO THE DEADLINE TO REQUEST THOSE BALLOTS IS JUNE 2, RIGHT?

>>MAGGIE: THAT'S CORRECT, DEADLINE TO REQUEST IS JUNE 2 AND AGAIN YOU CAN MAKE THAT REQUEST ONLINE, EITHER ONLINE AT NMVOTE.ORG OR YOU CAN CALL YOUR COUNTY CLERK'S OFFICE AND WE HAVE A LIST OF ALL THE COUNTY CLERK'S OFFICES.

NOW IT WILL TAKE A LITTLE MORE TIME TO REQUEST YOUR BALLOT THAT WAY, YOU WILL HAVE TO GET AN APPLICATION IN THE MAIL, SEND IT BACK, THEN GET YOUR BALLOT.

SO AS WE ARE APPROACHING, YOU KNOW, WE ARE NOW JUST A LITTLE OVER TWO WEEKS OUT FROM ELECTION DAY, I WOULD REALLY RECOMMEND TO FOLKS TO GO ONLINE IF YOU CAN AND ASK A FRIEND OR A RELATIVE TO HELP YOU DO THAT APPLICATION IF YOU ARE NOT EXACTLY COMFORTABLE DOING AN INTERNET APPLICATION FOR THAT BALLOT.

>>LORENE: ANOTHER THING THEY CAN FIND AT NMVOTE.ORG IS A WAY TO GET YOUR SAMPLE BALLOT BECAUSE I THINK MOST VOTERS WILL BE SURPRISED AT HOW IMPORTANT THIS PRIMARY ELECTION IS.

THERE ARE SOME REALLY IMPORTANT RACES AND REALLY IMPORTANT ISSUES THAT ARE ON THERE.

SO TELL THEM WHAT HAPPENS IF THEY GOT TO NMVOTE.ORG AND YOU GO TO A BOX THAT SAYS, "FIND MY REGISTRATION AND ELECTION INFORMATION," AND THEN TELL THEM WHAT THEY HAVE TO DO NEXT TO SEE THEIR SAMPLE BALLOT.

>>MAGGIE: THAT'S CORRECT AND I CAN TELL, LORENE, THAT YOU VISITED OUR VOTER INFORMATION PORTAL, YOURSELF AND YOU ARE WELL FAMILIAR WITH IT.

YOU ARE RIGHT, ANOTHER OPTION AVAILABLE TO YOU IS TO FIND YOUR SAMPLE BALLOT AND I ALWAYS RECOMMEND THAT FOLKS DO THAT, I DO IT MYSELF BEFORE EVERY ELECTION JUST TO FAMILIARIZE OR RE-FAMILIARIZE MYSELF WITH WHAT CANDIDATES ARE ON THE BALLOT FOR THIS PRIMARILY ELECTION.

AND ONCE YOU HAVE LOGGED IN TO YOUR VOTER INFORMATION, YOU CAN CLICK ON THAT LINK AND IT WILL GIVE YOU BASICALLY A REPLICA, YOU KNOW, IT IS VERY CLEAR THAT IT IS A SAMPLE BALLOT, IT IS NOT SOMETHING THAT YOU CAN USE TO VOTE WITH, BUT IT WILL GIVE YOU A REPLICA OF WHAT YOUR BALLOT WILL LOOK LIKE ALL THE RACES FROM TOP TO BOTTOM.

AND IF YOU ARE LIKE ME AND I FEEL LIKE I AM SOMEBODY WHO THINKS A LOT ABOUT VOTING ELECTIONS ON A DAILY BASIS, YOU KNOW, IT IS EVEN GOOD FOR ME IN SOME OF THE RACES WHERE I DON'T NECESSARILY KNOW THE CANDIDATES OR KNOW A WHOLE LIKE ABOUT THEM, TO DO THAT IN ADVANCE AND THEN THAT WAY, I CAN GET MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THOSE CANDIDATES AND THOSE RACES BEFORE HAND, BEFORE I GET MY BALLOT AND VOTE.

>>LORENE: AND ALSO BECAUSE NEW MEXICO HAS BEEN VERY DISTRACTED BY THE FIRES AND ALL OF THE CHANGES IN OUR LIVES BECAUSE OF THE FIRES, BUT YOU CAN GET INFORMATION ABOUT THE CANDIDATES BY GOING TO A NEUTRAL SITE CALLED WWW.VOTE411.ORG/NEWMEXICO AND THAT WILL GIVE YOU INFORMATION ABOUT THE CANDIDATES AND THE ISSUES PRESENTING THE VARIOUS VIEWS ON THE SAME ISSUE ON EACH CANDIDATE AND ON SOME OF THE MAJOR MORE ABSTRACT IDEAS.

SO THEY KEEP SAYING THAT DEMOCRACY IS UNDER ATTACK NOW AND WE ARE THE FOOT SOLDIERS, SO I REALLY WANT EVERYONE TO MAKE THE EFFORT, PARTICULARLY IN THIS PRIMARY ELECTION, TO LOOK AT YOUR SAMPLE BALLOT, DO A LITTLE RESEARCH ABOUT SOME OF THE CANDIDATES, SOME OF THEM YOU WILL PASSIONATELY AGREE WITH AND SOME OF THEM YOU WILL DISAGREE WITH.

BUT DON'T JUST LET THE ADVERTISING AND THINGS LIKE THAT SWAY YOU.

DO A LITTLE HOMEWORK, TALK TO FRIENDS AND FAMILY, AND GO TO VOTE411.ORG AND IT WILL GIVE YOU A LOT OF NEUTRAL INFORMATION ABOUT THE CANDIDATES.

ANY OTHER SUGGESTIONS?

>>MAGGIE: YOU KNOW I JUST REALLY WANT FOLKS TO KNOW WE ARE HEADING INTO THE LAST, AGAIN, COUPLE OF WEEKS OF EARLY VOTING.

IF YOU ARE CURRENTLY LIVING SOMEWHERE WITHIN YOUR COUNTY, YOU CAN EARLY VOTE, I WANT TO REMIND FOLKS THERE ARE STILL A COUPLE OF MORE SATURDAYS LEFT AVAILABLE AND OF COURSE THE WEEKS IN BETWEEN TO VISIT EITHER YOUR COUNTY CLERK'S OFFICE OR A LOCAL EARLY VOTING LOCATION.

THE SATURDAY BEFORE ELECTION DAY IS GOING TO BE YOUR LAST OPPORTUNITY TO VOTE EARLY, SO TRY AND GET THAT BALLOT IN SOONER THAN LATER IF YOU CAN SO YOU ARE NOT WAITING UNTIL THE LAST MINUTE.

I ALSO WANT FOLKS TO KNOW THAT THIS YEAR WE HAVE SAME DAY VOTER REGISTRATION AVAILABLE DURING EARLY VOTING AT EVERY COUNTY CLERK'S OFFICE AND ON ELECTION DAY AT ANY POLLING LOCATION.

AND SO IF YOU HAVEN'T REGISTERED TO VOTE OR IF YOU ARE AN INDEPENDENT OR A MINOR PARTY VOTER AND YOU DO WANT TO PARTICIPATE IN THIS YEAR'S ELECTION, YOU CAN GO IN PERSON TO ANY POLLING LOCATION AND EITHER REGISTER OR DO AN UPDATE TO YOUR VOTER REGISTRATION INFORMATION, IN ORDER TO PARTICIPATE IN THE ELECTION AND THAT IS A NEW FEATURE THAT WE HAVEN'T HAD BEFORE.

OF COURSE, IF YOU VISIT OUR VOTER INFORMATION PORTAL NMVOTE.ORG YOU CAN FIND OUT ALL THE INFORMATION YOU NEED TO KNOW HOW TO SAME DAY REGISTER AND VOTE IN PERSON IF YOU WANT TO PARTICIPATE THAT WAY AS WELL.

>>LORENE: SO IS THIS A STEP A LITTLE MORE TOWARD WHAT ARE CALLED OPEN PRIMARIES, WHERE THE PAST PRIMARIES HAVE BEEN FOR DEMOCRATS VOTED IN THE DEMOCRATIC PRIMARY AND REPUBLICANS VOTED IN THE REPUBLICAN PRIMARY AND NOW, TELL ME THE SITUATION WITH PARTY AFFILIATION AND VOTING IN THE PRIMARY.

>>MAGGIE: RIGHT, SO YOU KNOW, THE SHORT ANSWER IS YOU STILL HAVE TO BE REGISTERED WITH A MAJOR PARTY TO VOTE IN THE PRIMARY.

THE BIG DIFFERENCE IS THAT OPTION TO CHANGE OR UPDATE YOUR REGISTRATION DIDN'T STOP 28 DAYS BEFORE ELECTION DAY THIS YEAR.

NOW, YOU CAN IN PERSON VISIT A POLLING LOCATION AND DO THAT SAME DAY REGISTRATION TO CHOOSE A PARTICULAR PARTY NOW.

IT IS NOT LIKE YOU CAN VOTE FOR ANY CANDIDATE IN ANY PRIMARY, YOU HAVE TO TEMPORARILY IF YOU CHOOSE REGISTER WITH A MAJOR PARTY, DEMOCRAT OR REPUBLICAN OR LIBERTARIAN, YOU WILL RECEIVE THE FULL BALLOT FOR YOUR PRECINCT FOR THAT PARTY AND THEN IF YOU SO CHOOSE AFTER YOU HAVE VOTED, YOU ARE MORE THAN WELCOME TO CHANGE YOUR VOTER REGISTRATION BACK TO INDEPENDENT OR MINOR PARTY.

SO AS YOU PUT IT, LORENE, IT IS A STEP TOWARD, I WOULD SAY, TO OPEN PRIMARY VOTING.

IT IS NOT FULL OPEN PRIMARY VOTING, BUT WE DO NOW OFFER THAT OPPORTUNITY FOR PARTICIPATION THAT WE HAVE NEVER OFFERED BEFORE AS A STATE.

>>LORENE: NOW THERE IS ONE OTHER REALLY GENEROUS ACT THAT YOU HAVE DONE.

TALK TO ME ABOUT THE SPECIAL ARRANGEMENTS FOR FIRST RESPONDERS AND FIREFIGHTERS IN TERMS OF THE PRIMARY ELECTIONS.

>>MAGGIE: THAT'S ANOTHER THING, THANK YOU FOR ASKING THE QUESTION.

SO WE DO KNOW WE HAVE SO MANY FIREFIGHTERS AND FIRST RESPONDERS THAT ARE NOT IN THEIR HOME COUNTY RIGHT NOW THAT ARE LOCATED FOR THE DURATION IN PLACES LIKE SAN MIGUEL AND MORA, LOS ALAMOS AND TAOS FIGHTING FIRES.

WE HAVE SPECIAL PROVISIONS THAT WILL ALLOW YOU, IF YOU ARE A FIREFIGHTER OR FIRST RESPONDER, TO ACTUALLY RECEIVE YOUR BALLOT ELECTRONICALLY IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO DO THAT.

AGAIN, IF YOU VISIT OUR WEBSITE AT NMVOTE.ORG, YOU HAVE THE OPTION TO CHOOSE THAT BECAUSE WE ARE BASICALLY TREATING YOU THE SAME WAY WE WOULD TREAT OUR OVERSEAS AND MILITARY VOTERS.

FOR THE FACT THAT WE KNOW OUR FIRST RESPONDERS AND FIREFIGHTERS ARE NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO GET HOME TO VOTE IN PERSON, SO THAT IS ANOTHER OPTION THAT IS AVAILABLE.

YOU CAN RECEIVE THAT BALLOT BY A SECURE EMAIL AND RETURN IT THE SAME WAY IF YOU SO CHOOSE.

OF COURSE, REGULAR ABSENTEE VOTING, GETTING THAT BALLOT IN THE MAIL IS AN OPTION AS WELL, IF THOSE VOTERS CHOOSE TO DO THAT.

BUT THIS WAY WE CAN EXPEDITE IT, GET IT TO YOU QUICKLY AND ENABLE YOU TO VOTE AND GET THAT VOTE COUNTED BACK TO YOUR COUNTY CLERK'S OFFICE.

>>LORENE: THAT IS JUST VERY GENEROUS.

THEY ARE SACRIFICING SO MUCH TO FIGHT THE FIRES FOR US AND YOU HAVE MADE IT MUCH EASIER FOR THEM TO VOTE.

SO WE HAVE TALKED ABOUT NMVOTE.ORG WHERE YOU CAN GET A SAMPLE BALLOT, WHERE YOU CAN REGISTER AND REQUEST AN ABSENTEE BALLOT AND THEN WE TALKED ABOUT THE VOTER'S GUIDE.

SO WHAT ELSE DO PEOPLE NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THIS PRIMARY ELECTION?

>>MAGGIE: I THINK THE LAST THING THAT I THINK IS REALLY IMPORTANT TO EMPHASIZE IS THAT YOU KNOW A LOT OF FOLKS RIGHT NOW I THINK ARE FEELING A LITTLE BIT OF FATIGUE ABOUT ELECTIONS.

YOU KNOW MAYBE A LITTLE BIT DISENCHANTED WITH THE GOVERNMENT, MAYBE NOT THAT INTERESTED IN THE PRIMARY ELECTION BECAUSE WE HAVE SO MANY OTHER THINGS GOING ON AND I JUST WANT TO REMIND VOTERS YOU KNOW, OUR DEMOCRACY DEPENDS ON PARTICIPATION AND THE ONLY WAY WE WILL BE ABLE TO SUSTAIN OUR DEMOCRACY FOR THE FUTURE IS IF THE VOTERS COME OUT AND MAKE THEIR VOICES HEARD.

AND IN MANY OF THE RACES, DEPENDING ON WHERE YOU LIVE IN THE STATE, YOUR PRIMARY ELECTION MAY BE THE GENERAL ELECTION.

IN OTHER WORDS, THE ONLY CANDIDATES ON THE BALLOT FOR A PARTICULAR OFFICE MAY ONLY BE WITHIN ONE MAJOR PARTY.

SO, FOR EXAMPLE, UP HERE IN THE NORTHERN PART OF THE STATE, THERE ARE MANY OFFICES FOR WHICH NO REPUBLICAN IS RUNNING, NO LIBERTARIAN IS RUNNING, WE ONLY HAVE A DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATE AND THEN VICE VERSA AND MAYBE SAY THE SOUTHEASTERN PART OF THE STATE.

SO IT IS REALLY IMPORTANT IF YOU DO WANT TO HAVE A SAY IN WHO YOUR LOCAL AND STATEWIDE LEADERS ARE ULTIMATELY TO MAKE THAT VOICE HEARD IN YOUR PRIMARY ELECTION.

THERE IS STILL PLENTY OF TIME TO CAST THAT BALLOT.

AGAIN, THE ELECTION IS JUNE 7, BUT MAKE A PLAN WHETHER IT IS GOING TO VOTE EARLY, WHETHER YOU WANT TO GO ONLINE NOW TO NMVOTE.ORG AND APPLY FOR YOUR ABSENTEE VOTE BY MAIL BALLOT OR WHETHER YOU ARE JUST SURE YOU ARE A PERSON WHO WANTS TO GO VOTE ON ELECTION DAY, MAKE SURE YOU KNOW THE NEAREST POLLING LOCATION TO YOU BY VISITING NMVOTE.ORG AS WELL.

BUT MOST IMPORTANTLY, WE JUST REALLY WANT EVERY SINGLE ELIGIBLE VOTER IN NEW MEXICO TO GET OUT AND MAKE THEIR VOICE HEARD.

>>LORENE: WELL, WE ARE SPEAKING TODAY WITH MAGGIE TOULOUSE OLIVER, WHO IS THE NEW MEXICO SECRETARY OF STATE, THE CHIEF ELECTIONS OFFICER FOR THE STATE.

AND I WANT TO ADD ANOTHER PITCH FOR WHY YOU SHOULD VOTE, YOU REALLY SHOULDN'T COMPLAIN IF YOU DIDN'T VOTE.

YOU ARE GOING TO COMPLAIN ABOUT THE PEOPLE IN OFFICE AND YOU DIDN'T MAKE YOUR VOICE HEARD, YOU DON'T GET TO COMPLAIN.

SO THIS IS YOUR CHANCE TO FORESTALL ANY BAD OUTCOME THAT YOU CAN AGREE WITH.

WELL, I WOULD LIKE TO EXPAND OUR DISCUSSION A LITTLE BIT BECAUSE IT IS SURPRISINGLY, ESPECIALLY IN A STATE LIKE OURS WHERE ELECTIONS ARE HANDLED IMPECCABLY, THAT WE ARE STILL FIGHTING THE BIG LIE, WHICH IS THAT VOTERS DO NOT TRUST.

THEY HAVE BEEN TAUGHT TO LOOK FOR VOTER FRAUD EVERYWHERE, WELL, THEY ARE NOT GOING TO FIND IT HERE.

AND SO THE FALLOUT FROM THE 2020 ELECTION IS DISINFORMATION AND INTIMIDATION AND THREATS.

SO HOW DO WE WIN BACK THE VOTER'S TRUST, I THINK MOST PEOPLE HERE TRUST, THERE HAVE BEEN NO SCANDALS IN OUR ELECTIONS.

BUT NATIONALLY, IT IS JUST EVEN IN THE PENNSYLVANIA SENATE RACE, THE DISGRACED FORMER PRESIDENT SUGGESTED TO DR. OZ THAT HE JUST DECLARE THAT HE WON AND BE DONE WITH IT, EVEN THOUGH THEY WERE STILL COUNTING, THERE IS UP TO ONE HALF A PERCENTAGE POINT BETWEEN THEM.

THAT IS NOT OKAY, YOU DON'T GET TO DO THAT, YOU DON'T GET TO SAY I WON AND WALK AWAY.

SO I THINK WE HAVE TO EDUCATE PEOPLE MORE IN CIVICS AND HOW ELECTIONS WORK, BUT HOW DO WE GET THE JOY OF VOTING BACK AND THE HONOR OF CHOOSING OUR OWN LEADERS, TALK TO ME ABOUT THAT.

>>MAGGIE: YOU KNOW THIS IS A QUESTION THAT AND THANK YOU FOR ASKING IT AND BRINGING UP THIS TOPIC OF CONVERSATION BECAUSE THIS IS A QUESTION AND AN ISSUE THAT I LITERALLY THINK ABOUT, WORK ON, TALK TO PEOPLE ABOUT ON A DAILY BASIS.

YOU KNOW, IT'S HARD AS AN ELECTION OFFICIAL BECAUSE, YOU KNOW WHAT MOST PEOPLE DON'T UNDERSTAND AND I WILL SAY THIS IS TRUE FOR ME AND I WOULD SAY 99.999 PERCENT OF ALL ELECTION OFFICIALS AROUND THE COUNTRY.

WHILE WE, OF COURSE, MANY OF US ARE PARTISAN IN THAT WE ARE REGISTERED TO VOTE FOR A CERTAIN POLITICAL PARTY OR IDENTIFY WITH A CERTAIN POLITICAL PARTY, WHEN WE COME INTO OUR OFFICES TO RUN ELECTIONS, WE TAKE THAT PARTY HAT OFF WHEN WE COME IN THE DOOR.

AND FOR ME AND FOR THE VAST MAJORITY OF ELECTION OFFICIALS ACROSS THE COUNTRY, THE ONLY THING WE REALLY CARE ABOUT IS RUNNING A FAIR ELECTION AND THE REASON FOR THAT IS THAT AT THE END OF THE DAY IT'S ABOUT MAKING SURE THE VOICE OF THE PEOPLE IS HEARD AND HAVING A GOVERNMENT THAT REFLECTS THE VALUES AND DESIRES OF THE AMERICAN PEOPLE.

THAT'S WHAT OUR DEMOCRACY IS ALL ABOUT.

LAST WEEK I HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF TRAVELING TO DALLAS, TEXAS, WHERE I WAS ABLE TO SPEAK WITH A WIDE VARIETY OF ACADEMICS, WRITERS, EXPERTS, AND OTHER ELECTION OFFICIALS IN A BIPARTISAN FORUM CONVENED BY FORMER PRESIDENT GEORGE W. BUSH AND A NUMBER OF OTHER NATIONAL BIPARTISAN ORGANIZATIONS TO TALK ABOUT THIS ISSUE.

AND YOU KNOW, THE THING THAT KEPT BUBBLING UP IN THE CONVERSATION WAS THIS QUESTION OF TRUST.

UNFORTUNATELY, WE FEEL LIKE WE ARE AT A LOW POINT IN THIS COUNTRY WITH REGARD TO TRUST AND PARTICULARLY TRUST OF THE SO-CALLED OTHER SIDE.

YOU KNOW THERE IS A VIEW THAT YOUR PEOPLE AND THEIR PEOPLE, RIGHT, US AND THEM.

AND SO OUR CHALLENGE, I BELIEVE IN TERMS OF HOW WE GET BACK TO EXACTLY WHAT YOU SAID, HOW WE GET BACK TO FEELING GOOD ABOUT OUR GOVERNMENT AND OUR DEMOCRACY, IS FIGURING OUT HOW WE TRUST ONE ANOTHER AND HOW WE TRUST THE SYSTEM AND I BELIEVE IT STARTS WITH HAVING EXACTLY THOSE KINDS OF BIPARTISAN CONVERSATIONS WHERE EXPERTS AND OFFICIALS AND EVEN REGULAR FOLKS CAN JUST COME TOGETHER AND START TALKING ABOUT WHAT OUR DEMOCRACY MEANS TO US.

>>LORENE: THERE IS ANOTHER ISSUE, REMEMBER THE ISSUE WITH THE FAKE ELECTORS BECAUSE WE WERE ONE OF THE STATES THAT HAD A WHOLE OTHER SLATE THAT WAS GOING TO BE AWARDED TO THE ALTERNATIVE CANDIDATE INSTEAD OF PRESIDENT BIDEN WHO WON.

SO IN SOME STATES THEY ARE NOW GOING BACK AND LOOKING AT THE SLATES OF FAKE ELECTORS AS A FORM OF VOTER FRAUD.

I DON'T THINK THAT HAS HAPPENED HERE YET BUT WHAT DO YOU KNOW ABOUT WHAT HAS HAPPENING WITH THOSE STATES THAT HAD FAKE ELECTORS.

>>MAGGIE: UNFORTUNATELY, I DON'T HAVE AN UPDATE FOR YOU RIGHT NOW.

AS YOU KNOW, I THINK WE TALKED ABOUT IT THE LAST TIME I WAS ON YOUR SHOW, WE HAD REFERRED THOSE HERE IN NEW MEXICO NOT ONLY TO THE STATE ATTORNEY GENERAL BUT THE ATTORNEY GENERAL ALSO GOT THE FEDERAL DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE INVOLVED.

AND I THINK ONE OF THE BIG CHALLENGES THAT WE DEAL WITH WHEN WE DO, YOU KNOW, BRING THESE KINDS OF ISSUES FORTH TO LAW ENFORCEMENT TO INVESTIGATE AND TO LOOK INTO, IS THAT ONCE THEY GO INTO INVESTIGATORY MODE THEY DON'T COMMENT PUBLICLY.

SO WE PROBABLY AREN'T GOING TO KNOW MUCH IF ANYTHING UNTIL THOSE INVESTIGATIONS HAVE CONCLUDED, BUT TO THE BEST OF MY KNOWLEDGE, THOSE INVESTIGATIONS ARE ONGOING BOTH AT THE STATE LEVEL HERE IN NEW MEXICO AND AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL.

AND I HAVE NO DOUBT THAT IF A FINDING OF VIOLATION OF STATE OR FEDERAL LAW, YOU KNOW, COMES UP IN THAT INVESTIGATION, THAT OUR LAW ENFORCEMENT WILL PURSUE THOSE ACTIVITIES TO THE FULLEST EXTENT OF THE LAW.

I PERSONALLY BELIEVE WE SHOULD HAVE A ZERO-TOLERANCE POLICY WITH ANY KIND OF FRAUD OR TAMPERING WITH OUR ELECTION PROCESS AND THAT INCLUDES POTENTIALLY THE ACTIVITIES OF THOSE FALSE ELECTORS.

>>LORENE: IN THIS YEAR'S LEGISLATIVE SESSION, YOU HAD A COUPLE OF REALLY IMPORTANT ELECTION SECURITY BILLS, ONE OF WHICH WAS QUITE LENGTHY, BUT THEY DIDN'T DO TOO WELL.

ARE YOU GOING TO MAKE ANOTHER STAB THE NEXT 60-DAY SESSION AND TRY TO GET SOME DETAILS IRONED OUT THAT WILL PROVIDE SAFER MORE SECURE ELECTIONS?

>>MAGGIE: ABSOLUTELY.

YOU KNOW, I THINK THE THING THAT FOLKS SHOULD KNOW IS THAT WE REALLY DO RUN VERY SAFE ACCURATE ELECTIONS WITH INTEGRITY HERE IN NEW MEXICO REGARDLESS OF THOSE LAW CHANGES, BUT THERE IS ALWAYS ROOM FOR IMPROVEMENT.

THAT IS SORT OF BOTH THE BEAUTY AND THE CURSE OF RUNNING ELECTIONS AND SO WE DID HAVE THREE SEPARATE BILLS THIS YEAR THAT, YOU KNOW, ONE THAT ADDRESSED MOSTLY SORT OF TECHNICAL ISSUES ABOUT PROCESS AND HOW WE HANDLE CERTAIN ASPECTS OF THE CURRENT VOTING PROCESS.

ONE THAT DEALT SPECIFICALLY WITH ELECTION OFFICIALS AND THREATS OF VIOLENCE OR CRIMES GEARED TOWARD ELECTION OFFICIALS AND THEN ONE THAT WAS SORT OF WHAT I WOULD CALL THE BIG IDEAS BILL, SENATE BILL 8, WHICH WAS ABOUT EXPANDING ACCESS TO THE BALLOT BOX, YOU KNOW WHILE NOT COMPROMISING THE SECURITY OF OUR ELECTIONS.

AND TO YOUR POINT, LORENE, I THINK WE HAD A 30-DAY LEGISLATIVE SESSION, WE HAD A LOT OF REALLY BIG ISSUES TO DEAL WITH DURING THIS LEGISLATIVE SESSION.

COVID-19 PANDEMIC, BILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN STATE REVENUE TO ALLOCATE EFFECTIVELY AND EFFICIENTLY, SOME OPPORTUNITIES TO DO SOME BIG THING AND UNFORTUNATELY, I THINK MOSTLY DUE TO THE FACT THAT THE SESSION WAS ONLY 30 DAYS, WE DIDN'T HAVE TIME TO VET SOME OF PARTICULARLY THAT BIG IDEAS PIECE OF LEGISLATION TO REALLY HAVE ROBUST DEBATE AND PUBLIC COMMENT AND FOR THE LEGISLATORS TO DEVELOP CONSENSUS AMONG THEMSELVES ABOUT WHAT THEY THOUGHT WAS THE BEST, WHAT WERE THE BEST PIECES OF THAT LEGISLATION TO ADVANCE?

SO TO YOUR QUESTION, YES, WE ARE GOING TO COME BACK NEXT YEAR.

THE TECHNICAL BILL, SENATE BILL 6, HOPEFULLY WE CAN REVAMP AND BRING BACK, IT HAD REALLY WIDE BIPARTISAN SUPPORT GOING INTO THIS YEAR'S LEGISLATIVE SESSION.

SENATE BILL 144, WHICH WAS OUR BILL TO PROTECT ELECTION OFFICIALS FROM THREATS OF VIOLENCE, I HAVE NO DOUBT CAN BE SUPPORTED BY OUR LEGISLATORS AS WELL.

AND THEN WE ARE GOING TO TAKE SOME TIME OVER THE SUMMER, HOPEFULLY, AND INTERIM LEGISLATIVE SESSION AND BY WORKING ONE ON ONE AND COLLECTIVELY WITH LEGISLATORS AND ADVOCACY GROUPS, DEVELOP A BILL THAT HAS THE SAME FLAVOR AND A LOT OF THE SAME COMPONENTS OF SENATE BILL 8.

IT MAY LOOK THE SAME, IT MAY LOOK A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT, BUT THE POINT WILL BE, WE WILL TRY AGAIN AND THIS YEAR WE WILL HAVE SUBSTANTIALLY MORE TIME TO TRY AND VET THESE REALLY CRITICAL QUESTIONS AND THESE BIG QUESTIONS, THESE BIG ISSUES THAT ARE BEING PROPOSED.

>>LORENE: WELL I AM VERY HAPPY WITH THE SECURITY OF ELECTION OFFICIALS, BECAUSE YOU, YOURSELF, HAD A VERY SERIOUS THREAT AND YOU HANDLED IT BEAUTIFULLY.

BUT IT IS JUST NOT OKAY TO BE THREATENING EVEN OUR POLL WATCHERS.

I MEAN IT HAS JUST BEEN DANGEROUS TO BE INVOLVED IN ELECTIONS SO LET'S GET THAT TAKEN CARE OF.

WE ONLY HAVE A COUPLE OF MINUTES LEFT.

I WOULD LIKE YOU TO TALK ABOUT THE DATES COMING UP THAT PEOPLE NEED TO KNOW AND AGAIN, LET'S DO IT FOR THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN AFFECTED BY THE WILDFIRES.

WHAT DO THEY NEED TO KNOW ESPECIALLY ABOUT GETTING THEIR ABSENTEE BALLOTS, CAN WE JUST WRAP IT UP WITH THAT?

>>MAGGIE: YUP.

ABSOLUTELY.

SO WE ARE GOING TO HAVE EARLY VOTING AT OUR CLERK'S OFFICES AND SATELLITE SITES ALL THE WAY UP UNTIL SATURDAY, JUNE 4, THAT'S ONGOING.

THE LAST DAY TO REQUEST AN ABSENTEE OR VOTE BY MAIL BALLOT IS COMING UP ON THURSDAY, JUNE 2, SO THERE IS STILL PLENTY OF TIME TO GET THAT REQUEST IN AND TO GET YOUR BALLOT SENT TO YOU EITHER WHERE YOU LIVE OR WHEREVER YOU ARE STAYING.

WHEREVER YOU CAN RECEIVE MAIL, YOU CAN REQUEST THAT BALLOT BE DELIVERED TO YOU THERE AND THAT IS ESPECIALLY IMPORTANT AS YOU MENTIONED, LORENE, FOR OUR FIRE EVACUEES THAT ARE STAYING ELSEWHERE, PARTICULARLY THOSE OUTSIDE OF THE COUNTY.

OF COURSE, IF YOU CAN, PERSONALLY GO TO A POLLING LOCATION ON TUESDAY, JUNE 7, WHICH IS ELECTION DAY, THE POLLS WILL BE OPEN IN YOUR COUNTY FROM 7 AM TO 7 PM.

REMEMBER ESPECIALLY FOR THOSE WHO ARE NOT CURRENTLY LIVING AT HOME, THAT YOU HAVE TO VOTE WITHIN YOUR COUNTY, BUT YOU CAN VOTE AT ANY POLLING LOCATION IN THAT COUNTY.

IF YOU ARE NOT IN COUNTY, AGAIN, WE REALLY ENCOURAGE APPLYING FOR THAT ABSENTEE BALLOT AT NMVOTE.ORG AND IF YOU ARE A FIRST RESPONDER FIREFIGHTER, DEALING WITH THE FOREST FIRES THROUGHOUT THE STATE, YOU CAN ACTUALLY, SPECIFICALLY REQUEST FOR A BALLOT TO BE ELECTRONICALLY SENT TO YOU BECAUSE WE ARE GIVING THOSE PROVISIONS PARTICULARLY FOR OUR FIRST RESPONDERS THANKS TO LEGISLATION.

AGAIN, ANY QUESTIONS, ANY QUESTIONS AT ALL ABOUT VOTING, THE VOTING PROCESS, WHERE YOU CAN VOTE YOUR SAMPLE BALLOT, HOW TO CAST YOUR BALLOT, PLEASE VISIT NMVOTE.ORG >>LORENE: GREAT.

WELL, THANK YOU SO MUCH.

I ALSO WANT TO REMIND OUR AUDIENCE THAT WE ARE THE FOOT SOLDIERS OF DEMOCRACY, AND IT IS IMPORTANT THAT WE MARCH IN AND VOTE AND DON'T LET ALL THE VERY GRIEVOUS DISTRACTIONS OF THE FIRES AND THE EVACUATIONS AND EVERYTHING KEEP US FROM DOING OUR CIVIC DUTY.

I AM HAPPY TO SAY THAT OUR GUEST TODAY HAS BEEN NEW MEXICO SECRETARY OF STATE, MAGGIE TOULOUSE OLIVER.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>>MAGGIE: THANK YOU AGAIN FOR HAVING ME AND HAPPY VOTING.

>>LORENE: YES, HAPPY VOTING, THAT'S WHERE WE WILL LEAVE IT.

I AM LORENE MILLS AND 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