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 I AM DELIGHTED TO PRESENT OUR GUEST TODAY, NEW MEXICO'S SECRETARY OF STATE, MAGGIE TOULOUSE OLIVER.

>>MAGGIE: HI, LORENE, HAPPY TO BE HERE.

>>LORENE: OH I KNOW YOU ARE, YOU ARE SO MUCH IN THE NEWS.

YOU ARE OUR CHIEF ELECTIONS OFFICER FOR THE STATE AND NEW MEXICO IS SO WELL KNOWN FOR ITS ELECTION INTEGRITY, AS A MATTER OF FACT MIT DOES A TEST OF ELECTION PERFORMANCE INDEX AND WE ARE IN THE TOP 10 IN THE COUNTRY.

>>MAGGIE: YES, WE ARE, YES WE ARE.

>>LORENE: AND WE HAVE PAPER BALLOTS WHICH CANNOT BE HACKED.

>>MAGGIE: CORRECT.

>>LORENE: SO I AM SO GRATEFUL FOR ALL YOU HAVE DONE.

YOU HAVE A VERY IMPORTANT BILL, SB8, WE ARE GOING TO TALK ABOUT, BUT I WANT TO GIVE A LITTLE BACKGROUND BECAUSE YOU WERE IN THE 2020 ELECTION.

YOU WERE PRESIDENT OF THE NATIONAL SECRETARIES OF STATE ASSOCIATION AND I ALWAYS LOVE, BECAUSE YOU KNOW WHAT IS GOING ON IN ALL THE STATES, BUT WHAT HAPPENED TO YOU AFTER THAT ELECTION AND YOU WERE IN TERRIBLE DANGER AND I WANT PEOPLE TO KNOW WHAT YOU ENDURED.

>>MAGGIE: YES, SO YOU KNOW AFTER THE 2020 ELECTION IT WAS SHORTLY EVIDENT THAT THERE WAS A LOT OF DISTRUST IN THE OUTCOME OF THE ELECTION BECAUSE IT WAS TAKING A LOT OF STATES A LITTLE BIT OF TIME TO CONTINUE FINISHING THE COUNT, THE INITIAL COUNT OF THEIR BALLOTS.

AND EVEN THOUGH IT HAD BEEN WIDELY KNOWN THAT THIS WAS GOING TO TAKE A WHILE IN SOME PLACES, IT STARTED GETTING SPUN AS AN ELECTION ISSUE.

AND SO I, ALONG WITH SOME OF MY COLLEAGUES, I WAS ON AN EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE OF WHAT WE CALL THE GOVERNMENT COORDINATING COUNCIL WITH DHS, DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY, THAT OVERSEES ELECTION SECURITY AND THE STATEMENT WE PUT OUT WAS SIMPLY THAT WE HAD CONDUCTED THE MOST SECURE ELECTION IN AMERICAN HISTORY, WHICH IS TRUE AND IT WAS ACCURATE.

AND, AS A RESULT OF THAT, I AND MANY OF MY COLLEAGUES GOT TARGETED BY THE STATE OF IRAN.

>>LORENE: NATION, THE NATION OF IRAN.

>>MAGGIE: THE NATION OF IRAN.

>>LORENE: YEAH, WE GOT ENOUGH PROBLEMS, WE DON'T HAVE A STATE.

>>MAGGIE: THE IRANIAN STATE I SHOULD IS A BETTER WAY OF PUTTING IT.

AND WHAT THEY DECIDED TO DO WAS AND YOU KNOW THIS IS HOW A LOT OF THE ELECTION INTERFERENCE WORKS FROM FOREIGN POWERS THAT ARE REALLY TRYING TO MESS IN OUR AMERICAN DEMOCRACY, THEY DIDN'T TARGET ME DIRECTLY BUT WHAT THEY DID IS PUT UP A WEBSITE WITH MY PICTURE AND MY NAME AND THEY MADE IT TO LOOK LIKE IT WAS A HOME GROWN, YOU KNOW, AMERICAN WEBSITE SAYING THAT I WAS "ENEMY OF THE PEOPLE," THIS WEBSITE WAS CALLED ENEMIES OF THE PEOPLE ALONG WITH MANY OTHERS AND SO UNFORTUNATELY, MY SAFETY, PERSONAL SAFETY OF MY FAMILY WAS AT RISK.

I HAD TO GO INTO HIDING, GO AWAY FROM HOME AND THIS WAS DURING THE CHRISTMAS HOLIDAY.

IT WAS REALLY UNFORTUNATE, JUST TO MAKE SURE I WAS SAFE, MY SON WAS SAFE, MY LOVED ONES WERE SAFE, AND LET THE FBI TRY TO GET THIS WEBSITE TAKEN DOWN SO THAT WE WEREN'T BEING TARGETED ANYMORE.

>>LORENE: BUT HOMELAND SECURITY ALSO HELPED YOU BECAUSE THEY HAD TO MOVE YOU FROM PLACE TO PLACE FREQUENTLY.

>>MAGGIE: RIGHT.

>>LORENE: THERE WAS ALSO A BOUNTY PUT ON YOUR HEAD.

>>MAGGIE: THAT'S CORRECT.

THEY WERE COLLECTING BITCOIN.

THEY HAD A BITCOIN WALLET SET UP ON THE WEBSITE AND COLLECTING DONATIONS SO THAT THEY COULD POTENTIALLY PAY FOLKS WHO WOULD BE WILLING TO COMMIT VIOLENCE AGAINST US.

>>LORENE: OH MY GOODNESS.

I AM HAPPY TO SAY THAT IN THIS VERY SESSION SENATOR DUHIGG HAS INTRODUCED A BILL, SB144, WHAT WILL IT DO?

>>MAGGIE: IT IS GOING TO CREATE A FELONY FOR THREATS OF VIOLENCE AND INTIMIDATION OF ELECTION OFFICIALS AND THAT IS NOT JUST ME AND MY STAFF, THAT IS COUNTY CLERKS, THAT'S EVERY STAFF MEMBER OF A COUNTY CLERK'S OFFICE AND PROBABLY MOST IMPORTANTLY, ALL OF OUR POLL WORKERS AT THE POLLING PLACES ACROSS THE STATE.

BECAUSE IF THEY ARE THREATENED IN ANY WAY THAT IS A THREAT AGAINST OUR DEMOCRACY AND WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY ARE ABLE TO FEEL SAFE.

>>LORENE: YEAH.

>>MAGGIE: WHEN THEY EXECUTE THIS VOLUNTEER CIVIC DUTY OF CARRYING OUT OUR ELECTIONS.

>>LORENE: SO BEFORE WE GET INTO THE BILL, I JUST WANT TO POINT OUT THAT YOU AND LONNA ATKESON.

>>MAGGIE: CORRECT.

>>LORENE: RIGHT PUT OUT A JOINT REPORT, YOU HAVE BEEN DOING THESE ELECTION REPORTS ON VOTER ATTITUDES WHEN JUST LAST WEEK YOU HAD A PRESS CONFERENCE.

SO THIS IS THE EIGHTH REPORT AND NO OTHER STATE HAS DONE THIS KIND OF SURVEY OVER MULTIPLE ELECTIONS.

>>MAGGIE: RIGHT.

>>LORENE: GIVE US THE HIGHLIGHTS.

>>MAGGIE: WELL WANT DATA, WE WANT INFORMATION.

HOW ARE WE DOING WHEN IT COMES TO RUNNING ELECTIONS.

NOT ONLY DO WE WANT THE PERSPECTIVE OF ACADEMICS IN TERMS OF THE PROCESS AND PROCEDURES, WHAT THEY OBSERVE AT THE POLLING PLACE, WHICH THEY DO GO OUT AND OBSERVE THAT AND POLL OFFICIALS TRAINING AND MAKE SURE THAT POLL OFFICIALS ARE BEING TAUGHT, YOU KNOW, THE RULE OF HOW TO CONDUCT AN ELECTION ACCURATELY.

BUT THEY ALSO INTERVIEW VOTERS RANDOMLY FROM AROUND THE STATE AND OF COURSE, IT IS A BIPARTISAN SAMPLE VERY REFLECTIVE OF THE NEW MEXICO ELECTORATE AND ASKS THEM HOW DID YOU FEEL IT WENT, HOW DID YOU FEEL ABOUT YOUR OWN VOTING PROCESS, DID YOU HAVE TO WAIT IN LINE, DID YOU HAVE ANY PROBLEMS, WHAT WERE THE PROBLEMS, ETC., ETC., BECAUSE WE TAKE THAT INFORMATION BACK AND WE ACTUALLY MAKE POLICIES AND CHANGES TO MAKE OUR ELECTIONS BETTER EVERY TIME WE DO THAT.

>>LORENE: WELL, I WAS DELIGHTED TO FIND THAT 77 PERCENT OF THE PEOPLE THAT WERE POLLED WERE CONFIDENT THAT THEIR VOTES WERE BEING CORRECTLY COUNTED AND THAT, IN THIS DAY AND AGE, IS REALLY AN ACCOLADE, SO CONGRATULATIONS AND WE ARE WORKING ON GETTING LARGER VOTER TURNOUT.

SO LET'S LOOK AT THIS POINT IN HISTORY RIGHT NOW, BECAUSE THE BILLS THAT YOU ARE INTRODUCING ARE REALLY, REALLY IMPORTANT FOR WHAT IS HAPPENING IN VOTING.

I WENT TO THE BRENNAN CENTER FOR JUSTICE WEBSITE AND THEY DID A VOTING LAWS ROUNDUP OF ALL YOUR FRIENDS, THE OTHER SECRETARIES OF STATE, IN ALL THE OTHER STATES.

WELL IN 2021, 19 STATES HAD LAWS TO RESTRICT ACCESS TO VOTING AND NEW THIS YEAR, PARTICULARLY IN ARIZONA, THEY HAVE BILLS TO ALLOW PARTISAN LEGISLATORS AND JUDGES TO INTERFERE IN AN ELECTION AND TO TURN OVER THE PEOPLE'S VOTES.

SO THAT WAS HORRIFYING AND THIS IS ALL IN THE CONTEXT OF THE WHOLE, THE BIG LIE, THE LOSER CAN SAY, "OH NO IT WAS STOLEN FROM ME."

AND THE BIG LIE IS BELIEVED, SO PEOPLE NOW DON'T HAVE FAITH, THEY HAVE BEEN CONVINCED THAT THERE IS VOTER FRAUD AND THAT YOU HAVE PROVEN THAT THERE IS NOT.

AND SO THAT DRIVES ALL THE VOTER SUPPRESSION BILLS AND THE THING THAT REALLY DISAPPOINTED ME IN CONGRESS, THERE WERE TWO BILLS, THE FREEDOM TO VOTE ACT AND THAT FAILED IN THE SENATE BECAUSE THE REPUBLICANS BLOCKED THE DEBATE, THEY WOULDN'T EVEN LET THERE BE A DEBATE.

AND THE JOHN LEWIS, LET'S TALK ABOUT OUR HEROES.

>>MAGGIE: YES.

>>LORENE: VOTING RIGHTS ADVANCEMENT ACT TO JUST GO BACK AND RESTORE THE VOTING ACT OF 1965.

THAT FAILED IN THE SENATE BECAUSE THEY ONLY NEED 51 VOTES TO PASS IT, THEY NEED 60 VOTES TO BREAK A FILIBUSTER AND THEY COULDN'T BREAK THE REPUBLICAAN FILIBUSTER.

SO HERE WE ARE AND GALLOPING IN ON A WHITE HORSE, COMES THE NEW MEXICO SECRETARY OF STATE AND THE GOVERNOR.

>>MAGGIE: AND THE LEGISLATURE.

>>LORENE: A LOT OF LEGISLATORS.

>>MAGGIE: YES.

>>LORENE: AND SO THERE ARE TWO BILLS, SB6, ELECTION SECURITY AND A LOT OF ADMINISTRATIVE CHANGES.

SB8, SENATE BILL 8, IS THE NEW MEXICO VOTING RIGHTS ACT.

NOW, YOU RECENTLY HAD IN THE RULES COMMITTEE YOU HAD FOUR HOURS OF PUBLIC TESTIMONY AND THE PUBLIC HAS AN UNUSUAL WAY OF APPROACHING THINGS AND SO I TOOK NOTES, DETAILED NOTES, ABOUT THIS.

>>MAGGIE: GOOD.

>>LORENE: AND IT WAS ABOUT 50-50 IN THE FOUR-HOUR PUBLIC HEARING THERE WERE ABOUT 28 FOR AND 26 AGAINST OR VICE VERSA BUT THERE WERE SOME THAT I JUST COULDN'T CATCH THEY WERE VERY SHORT.

SO, THEY POINTED OUT A LOT OF CONTROVERSIAL ELEMENTS, AND I WOULD LIKE YOU TO GIVE US JUST A GENERAL PITCH ABOUT THE BILL AND THEN IF YOU COULD ADDRESS, I FOUND THE MOST COMMON COMPLAINT WAS ABOUT 17 YEAR OLDS VOTING EVEN THOUGH IT IS ONLY IN LOCAL ELECTIONS, AND PERMANENT ABSENTEE VOTER LIST, PEOPLE WERE WORRIED ABOUT THAT, THEY JUST DIDN'T TRUST ELECTIONS, THEY WERE CONCERNED.

WELL TELL ME WHAT YOU MOST HAVE TO FIGHT FOR IN THIS BILL BECAUSE IT IS UNDER SOME MISINTERPRETATIONS.

>>MAGGIE: ABSOLUTELY AND YOU KNOW I THINK SOME OF THAT IS NORMAL WHEN YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT DOING REALLY IMPORTANT ELECTION REFORM.

I PERSONALLY THINK IT IS INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT TO LET'S HAVE THE PROCESS, LET'S HAVE THE HEARINGS, LET'S TALK ABOUT THE BILL, LET'S HEAR FROM THE PUBLIC AND LET'S HEAR WHAT CONCERNS THEY HAVE, BUT IMPORTANTLY TO YOUR POINT, LORENE, LET'S MAKE SURE WE ARE DISPELLING THINGS THAT ARE NOT TRUE.

WHAT THIS BILL IS NOT GOING TO DO, IT IS NOT GOING TO LET NON-CITIZENS VOTE, WE HEARD A LOT ABOUT THAT DURING THE HEARING.

IT IS NOT GOING TO OPEN UP THE DOOR FOR VOTER FRAUD, IN FACT TO YOUR POINT ABOUT CREATING A PERMANENT ABSENTEE LIST, YOU KNOW, THIS IS SOMETHING I HAVE BEEN HEARING FROM CONSTITUENTS.

AS YOU KNOW, I HAVE BEEN RUNNING ELECTIONS IN THIS STATE FOR 15 YEARS.

TEN YEARS IN BERNALILLO COUNTY, NOW FIVE AT THE STATE LEVEL.

FOLKS HAVE BEEN ASKING FOR YEARS, "CAN I JUST SIGN UP, PLEASE, I JUST WANT TO SIGN UP ONE TIME SO I CAN ALWAYS GET MY BALLOT IN THE MAIL BECAUSE IT IS JUST BURDENSOME TO HAVE TO REMEMBER TO FILL OUT A NEW APPLICATION EVERY, I JUST WANT IT IN THE MAIL."

AND WE BUILT ALL THESE SAFEGUARDS INTO THAT, YOU KNOW, IF YOU MOVE, IF YOU KNOW CHANGE ANYTHING YOU ARE GOING TO BE TAKEN OFF THAT LIST AND WE WILL MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE NOT MAILING A BALLOT INTO A BLACK HOLE SOMEWHERE, RIGHT OR TO WHERE SOMEBODY ELSE COULD GET IT.

SO THIS BILL BASICALLY DOES TWO THINGS, IT EXPANDS ACCESS TO THE BALLOT BOX WHETHER IT BE THROUGH EASE OF VOTER REGISTRATION OR EASE OF VOTING BY BEING ABLE TO REQUEST AND RETURN A MAIL BALLOT.

THERE IS A WHOLE PROVISION THAT PROTECTS THE RIGHTS AND ACCESS OF VOTERS IN OUR RURAL TRIBAL AREA SO THAT IS THE NATIVE AMERICAN VOTING RIGHTS ACT PIECE.

>>LORENE: THAT IS SO IMPORTANT THAT I THINK THAT THIS IS SUCH A STEP FORWARD FOR NATIVE AMERICANS.

>>MAGGIE: YES.

>>LORENE: BECAUSE A LOT OF THE PEOPLE ON THE RESERVATIONS DO NOT HAVE A STREET ADDRESS.

>>MAGGIE: THAT'S RIGHT.

>>LORENE: BUT NOW YOU'RE BEING ABLE TO USE THE CHAPTER HOUSES.

>>MAGGIE: THAT'S RIGHT.

>>LORENE: WELL THAT MAKES SENSE.

>>MAGGIE: YEAH, AND IN FACT, FOR MANY THEIR CHAPTER HOUSE OR THEIR LOCAL COMMUNITY CENTER, THEY MAY NOT HAVE A POLLING PLACE THERE, BUT IT IS A LOT CLOSER TO GET THERE THAN IT IS TO MAYBE THEIR NEAREST POLLING PLACE WHICH COULD BE UP TO 50 OR 100 MILES AWAY.

SO GIVING THEM THE ABILITY TO DO THAT, CREATING A HOLIDAY FOR ELECTION DAY SO THAT FOLKS WHO WORK, CAN REALLY LEGITIMATELY HAVE THAT TIME OFF BECAUSE EVEN THOUGH IT IS IN LAW THAT YOU GET THE TIME OFF, YOU KNOW, UNFORTUNATELY THAT IS NOT ALWAYS THE CASE.

AND I THINK PROBABLY ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT THINGS TO ME, FOLKS WHO HAVE SERVED THEIR TIME IN JAIL, WILL BE ABLE TO CAST A BALLOT ONCE THEY GET OUT OF JAIL.

OUR CURRENT LAW IS NOT SO DIFFERENT, THE PROBLEM IS THAT IT DOESN'T WORK IN REAL LIFE THE WAY IS IT SUPPOSED TO ON PAPER AND SO, SO MANY PEOPLE WHO HAVE FULFILLED THEIR DEBT TO SOCIETY ARE BEING DENIED THE RIGHT TO VOTE BECAUSE OF BUREAUCRACY AND ADMINISTRATIVE ISSUES.

SO THIS PARTICULAR PIECE OF THE BILL IS GOING TO LET THOSE FOLKS HAVE THEIR VOICE HEARD, THEY CAN BE REINTEGRATED FULLY BACK INTO SOCIETY AND IT HAS PROVEN TO REDUCE RECIDIVISM RATES IN FOLKS GOING BACK INTO JAIL IF THEY ARE ABLE TO HAVE THEIR VOICE HEARD.

SO, AGAIN, THERE IS JUST SO MUCH THAT IS POSITIVE ABOUT THIS, BUT THIS BILL IS IN NO WAY SACRIFICING THE INTEGRITY OF OUR ELECTIONS.

WE CAN INCREASE ACCESS AND KEEP OUR ELECTIONS SECURE, THEY ARE NOT MUTUALLY EXCLUSIVE, WE CAN WALK AND CHEW GUM AT THE SAME TIME.

>>LORENE: YEAH, YEAH.

ONE OF THE THINGS IN THE OTHER BILL THE SB6 WHICH IS VOTER CONVENIENCE CENTERS.

>>MAGGIE: YES, YES.

>>LORENE: SO I LOVE GOING TO MY AGUA FRIA PRECINCT, I SEE EVERYONE I KNOW AND I ALWAYS GET TEARS IN MY EYES.

I LOVE VOTING.

BUT THERE ARE SOME TIMES WHEN I AM A HOUR AWAY HAVING TO DO SOMETHING NECESSARY AND THEN TO, YOU KNOW, SO I AM ALL FOR VOTER CONVENIENCE CENTERS AND MAKING IT A HOLIDAY.

>>MAGGIE: YEAH.

>>LORENE: THAT IS HUGE.

THERE ARE SOME OTHER ISSUES THAT PEOPLE COMPLAINED ABOUT IN THE PUBLIC COMMENTS.

ONE WAS PROVIDING INACTIVE VOTER LIST TO THIRD PARTIES, YOU NEED TO CLARIFY THAT, COULD YOU?

>>MAGGIE: THE IDEA HERE IS THAT WE ARE ABLE TO IDENTIFY, YOU KNOW, WE KNOW THAT THERE ARE A CERTAIN NUMBER OF PEOPLE IN THE STATE WHO ARE ELIGIBLE, THEY ARE VOTING AGE, THEY'RE NOT INCARCERATED, NOT COMPLETING THE TERMS OF THEIR SENTENCE, WHAT HAVE YOU, BUT THEY ARE NOT REGISTERED TO VOTE.

AND SO THE IDEA THERE IS THAT YOU MAKE A LIST AVAILABLE TO THIRD PARTIES AND WHEN PEOPLE HEAR THIRD PARTIES, THEY HEAR BUSINESSES RIGHT OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT AND REALLY THIS ABOUT THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY, THE REPUBLICAN PARTY, TOTAL BIPARTISAN ORGANIZATIONS THAT ARE ONLY INTERESTED IN GETTING FOLKS REGISTERED TO VOTE TO BE ABLE TO REACH OUT TO FOLKS AND SAY, "HEY, WOULD YOU LIKE TO REGISTER TO VOTE, HERE'S HOW YOU DO IT."

AND THE IDEA BEHIND THAT IS JUST SOMETIMES PEOPLE ARE NOT REGISTERED TO VOTE SIMPLY BECAUSE NOBODY'S ASKED.

>>LORENE: AND THEY DON'T KNOW HOW TO DO IT, YEAH.

>>MAGGIE: AND THEY DON'T KNOW HOW TO DO IT, EXACTLY RIGHT.

AND SO BEING INVITED INTO THE PROCESS IS ONE OF THE THINGS THAT THOSE OF US WHO ARE SUPER ACTIVE VOTERS TOTALLY TAKE FOR GRANTED.

THAT'S NOT ANYTHING I NEEDED OR THAT YOU NEEDED TO DO, BUT FOR SOME FOLKS IT IS.

>>LORENE: WELL WE ARE SPEAKING TODAY WITH OUR SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO, MAGGIE TOULOUSE OLIVER.

ANOTHER THING THAT COMES UP IN THE SB6 IS TO ACTUALLY TRAIN POLL WATCHERS, OBSERVERS, THAT SOMETIMES PEOPLE MIGHT GET EXUBERANTLY PARTISAN AND THAT THERE HAVE TO BE A STRUCTURE IN PLACE AND THEY HAVE TO BE TRAINED, "NO, YOU CANNOT WEAR THE BUTTON OF YOUR CANDIDATE OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT."

>>MAGGIE: RIGHT.

>>LORENE: AND ALSO IN SB6, YOU WANT TO CLEAN THE OLD VOTER ROLLS THAT THERE ARE PEOPLE, DEAD PEOPLE, THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO HAVE MOVED, THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO ARE NO LONGER NEW MEXICANS AND JUST TO GO THROUGH AND JUST KIND OF DO A LITTLE MOP UP.

>>MAGGIE: YEAH.

YEAH, IN FACT, WE DO A LOT OF THAT NOW ALREADY AND THIS IS JUST GOING TO GIVE US SOME MORE TOOLS IN THE TOOLKIT.

I THINK FOLKS DON'T REALIZE I HEAR A LOT THE ARGUMENT, YOU KNOW ANY TIME WE TALK ABOUT EXPANDING THE RIGHT TO VOTE IN NEW MEXICO, PARTICULARLY THIS PERMANENT VOTER ABSENTEE LIST OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT, OUR ROLLS ARE NOT CLEAN AND THE REALITY IS WE FOLLOW THE GOLD STANDARD HERE IN NEW MEXICO.

EVERYTHING WE CAN DO LEGALLY TO KEEP OUR ROLLS CLEAN, WE DO THOSE THINGS.

WE ARE NEVER GOING TO HAVE A PERFECT LIST, I MEAN THE REALITY IS WE ARE A TRANSIENT POPULATION IN THIS COUNTRY AND IN NEW MEXICO, PEOPLE MOVE, BUT WE ARE DOING EVERYTHING WE CAN AND THIS IS GOING TO GIVE US EVEN A FEW MORE TOOLS IN OUR TOOLKIT TO KEEP THE ROLLS CLEAN BUT REMEMBER AT THE SAME TIME, IT IS ALSO IMPORTANT NOT TO TAKE PEOPLE OFF THE ROLLS WHO ARE ELIGIBLE VOTERS, RIGHT?

WHAT WE REALLY WANT IS WE WANT TO KNOW EXACTLY WHERE YOU ARE LIVING TO BE ABLE TO HAVE YOU REGISTERED THERE, SO THAT YOU CANNOT ONLY VOTE IN THE RIGHT PLACE, BUT WE CAN SEND YOU MAIL IN THE RIGHT PLACE.

AND FRANKLY THAT IS JUST GOING TO TAKE US UP YET ANOTHER LEVEL IN TERMS OF THE ACCURACY OF OUR VOTER ROLLS.

>>LORENE: I NEED TO STEP BACK FROM THIS UNLESS THERE IS SOMETHING ELSE, IS THERE SOME OTHER POPULAR MISCONCEPTION THAT YOU WANT TO CLEAN UP?

>>MAGGIE: NOT THAT I CAN THINK OF RIGHT NOW, BUT LET'S KEEP GOING.

>>LORENE: WELL, YEAH, BECAUSE WE ARE HAVING SUCH A CRISIS IN CONFIDENCE SINCE THE 2020 ELECTION BECAUSE OF WHAT IS CALLED "THE BIG LIE."

>>MAGGIE: RIGHT.

>>LORENE: AND SO NOW IT ALLOWS PEOPLE TO DOUBT WHETHER, I AM SO PLEASED WITH YOUR 77 PERCENT VOTER CONFIDENCE IN THAT STUDY WITH UNM BUT THAT WAS BEFORE 2020.

>>MAGGIE: RIGHT.

>>LORENE: THAT DIDN'T COVER THAT ELECTION AND NOW PEOPLE ARE SAYING, YOU KNOW, THERE IS ELECTION DISINFORMATION, THERE IS INTIMIDATION, THERE IS THREATS AS YOU WELL KNOW, SO HOW CAN WE RESTORE PEOPLE'S CONFIDENCE?

THAT'S ONE OF THE REASONS I WANTED YOU AFTER I HEARD THOSE PUBLIC COMMENTS IN THE RULES COMMITTEE HEARING, I THOUGHT, WELL WE HAVE TO PRESENT SOME CORRECT INFORMATION HERE.

>>MAGGIE: IT IS THE MILLION DOLLAR QUESTION.

SO THE FIRST THING I'LL SAY IS THIS, A LOT OF THE FOLKS THAT CAST SUCH REALLY NEGATIVE AND MISINFORMED ASPERSIONS ON OUR ELECTION PROCESS ARE NOT FOLKS WHO HAVE EVER ACTUALLY PARTICIPATED IN ANY ASPECT OF ELECTIONS OTHER THAN CASTING A BALLOT.

THE THING THAT I ALWAYS LET FOLKS KNOW IF THEY DON'T ALREADY KNOW IS REALLY HOW TRANSPARENT OUR PROCESS IS AND HOW MANY FAIL SAFES ARE BUILT INTO THE PROCESS TO ENSURE THAT IT IS ACCURATE AND BIPARTISAN.

EVERY TIME YOU GO INTO A POLLING PLACE, THERE IS A BIPARTISAN GROUP OF POLL OFFICIALS, IT IS NEVER ONE PARTY IN CHARGE AT ANY POLLING PLACE.

FROM THE BEGINNING OF WHEN THE POLLS OPEN TO WHEN THEY ARE CLOSED DOWN AND LEAVE AT NIGHT, IT IS ABLE TO BE OBSERVED BY, YOU MENTIONED WATCHERS AND CHALLENGERS, THOSE ARE PARTY, POLITICAL PARTY APPOINTED INDIVIDUALS, ANY OF THE MAJOR POLITICAL PARTIES CAN APPOINT THOSE INDIVIDUALS TO OBSERVE AND THEIR WHOLE JOB IS TO HAVE EYES ON THE PROCESS AND MAKE SURE THAT IT IS GOING ACCURATELY AND FAIRLY.

AND THEY CAN MAKE NOTES AND THEY CAN MAKE REPORTS AND IF THERE ARE ANY ISSUES, THEY CAN LET THEIR COUNTY CLERK OR MY OFFICE KNOW AND WE CAN ADDRESS THOSE ISSUES.

EVERY SINGLE STEP OF THE PROCESS, FROM THE VERY BEGINNING WHEN THE MACHINES ARE CERTIFIED TO MAKE SURE THEY ARE COUNTING BALLOTS ACCURATELY, IS OPEN TO THE PUBLIC FOR OBSERVATION TILL THE VERY END OF THE PROCESS WHEN EVERY LAST VOTE IS COUNTED AND CERTIFIED, OPEN TO THE PUBLIC.

SO THAT IS ONE THING I DON'T THINK PEOPLE KNOW, I THINK PEOPLE THINK ALL THIS TAKES PLACE IN A BACK ROOM WITH NO ONE WATCHING AND THAT IS NOT THE CASE.

>>LORENE: ALSO I AM IMPRESSED.

WILL YOU TELL US WHAT CANVASSING IS?

AND HOW EVERY STEP IS MONITORED, GO AHEAD, WHAT IS CANVASSING?

>>MAGGIE: SO A CANVASS IS BASICALLY AN AUDIT IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE ELECTION TO MAKE SURE ALL THE VOTES ADD UP RIGHT AND WHAT YOUR COUNTY CLERK WILL DO, THEIR TEAM THEY WILL GO THROUGH EVERY POLLING PLACE, EVERY BALLOT THAT HAS BEEN CAST, MAKE SURE THAT FOR EVERY BALLOT ISSUED THERE IS A BALLOT CAST OR SPOILED OR A PROVISIONAL BALLOT THAT HAS TO BE DEALT WITH, AND MAKE SURE THAT EVERYTHING ADDS UP RIGHT.

AND IF THERE IS AN ISSUE, WE HAVE WEIRD THINGS THAT HAPPEN IN ELECTIONS.

SOMETIMES A PERSON WILL GO TO A POLLING PLACE, GET A BALLOT AND THEY WILL GO, OH, THE CANDIDATE THAT I WANTED TO VOTE FOR ISN'T ON HERE.

I GUESS, AND THEY WILL CRUMBLE IT UP AND THROW IT IN THE TRASH OR LEAVE, BUT WE COUNT FOR THAT.

AND SO THAT IS THE INITIAL AUDIT AND THEN WE DO A POST-ELECTION AUDIT AFTER THE ELECTION TO DOUBLE CHECK AND MAKE SURE THOSE MACHINES COUNTED ACCURATELY IN THE FIRST PLACE.

>>LORENE: WOW, GOOD.

NOW, JUST STEPPING BACK EVEN FURTHER, THERE IS A NATIONAL ISSUE NOW WITH THESE FAKE ELECTORS.

>>MAGGIE: OH, YES.

>>LORENE: AND NEW MEXICO IS ONE OF SEVEN STATES WHERE THE REPUBLICAN PARTY HAD LOYAL REPUBLICANS SIGN ON TO PRESENT THEMSELVES AS LEGITIMATE ELECTORS.

NOW IN NEW MEXICO THERE WAS A CAVEAT, AND I THINK ANOTHER STATE, TOO, THAT SAID WELL IN CASE THE ELECTION TURNS OUT THAT MR. TRUMP WON, THEN THESE WILL BE OUR ELECTORS.

BUT IT IS STILL A FELONY ISN'T IT, THIS IS ELECTION FRAUD?

>>MAGGIE: IT IS DEEPLY CONCERNING, AND I KNOW THE STATE ATTORNEY GENERAL HERE IN NEW MEXICO, HECTOR BALDERAS, AND THE FEDERAL DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE ARE LOOKING INTO IT.

YOU KNOW IT IS INTERESTING, I WAS HAVING A CONVERSATION RECENTLY WITH SOMEONE ABOUT, I THINK WE HAVE ALL GONE THROUGH A SITUATION IN OUR LIVES WHERE IN THE MOMENT WE DON'T UNDERSTAND THE GREATER REPERCUSSIONS OF WHAT'S HAPPENING.

AND FOR ME, THIS HAPPENED WHEN ON THE DATE THAT WE CONVENED THE ELECTORAL COLLEGE NATIONWIDE IN OUR FIVE ELECTORS HERE IN NEW MEXICO, I RECEIVED A NOTE, A TEXT, FROM ONE OF THE REPUBLICAN PARTY FOLKS WHO CLAIMED TO BE AN ELECTOR SAYING, "CAN WE COME IN AND CAST OUR BALLOTS?"

AND I SAID, "NO.

THAT WOULDN'T BE PERMISSIBLE UNDER LAW.

YOU CAN'T COME IN."

AND THEY SAID, "OKAY, THANK YOU."

AND THAT WAS IT AND IN MY MIND, I THOUGHT WELL YOU KNOW THIS LIKE IS A STUNT OR ITS FOR PUBLIC, PR PURPOSES.

>>LORENE: PR.

>>MAGGIE: YEAH, PR PURPOSES OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

WELL FAST FORWARD TO NOW AND WE FIND OUT, OH, THIS DIDN'T JUST HAPPENED IN NEW MEXICO, THIS HAPPENED IN SIX OTHER STATES, IT WAS A COORDINATED EFFORT AND THAT'S THE DEEPLY CONCERNING PART, RIGHT?

>>LORENE: AND DO YOU KNOW WHO THEY FIND WAS BEHIND IT?

>>MAGGIE: I DON'T KNOW ACTUALLY.

>>LORENE: RUDY GIULIANI.

>>MAGGIE: AH, THAT'S RIGHT, THAT RIGHT.

>>LORENE: RIGHT, RIGHT, THE MASKED SINGER.

>>MAGGIE: GREAT.

>>LORENE: WELL AND IT IS UNFORTUNATE.

IT IS GETTING A LOT OF NATIONAL TRACTION AND IT JUST MAKES ME UNCOMFORTABLE THAT WE ARE ONE OF THOSE STATES.

>>MAGGIE: YEAH.

>>LORENE: AND THEY WILL BE DRILLING DOWN WITH SCRUTINY ON WHAT IS HAPPENING IN OUR PARTISAN POLITICS HERE AND IT IS A LIST THAT WE DIDN'T WANT TO BE ON.

>>MAGGIE: NO IT IS UNFORTUNATE, BUT YOU KNOW AGAIN, LORENE, I THINK IT IS JUST REALLY HIGHLIGHTS THE IMPORTANCE OF HAVING ELECTION OFFICIALS WHO DESPITE THEIR PARTISAN, YOU KNOW, I MAKE NO BONES ABOUT THE FACT THAT I AM A DEMOCRAT, I AM A MEMBER OF THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY BUT WHEN I COME INTO MY JOB, I DON'T WEAR MY PARTY HAT.

MY JOB IS TO SERVE THE VOTERS OF NEW MEXICO AND RUN A FAIR AND ACCURATE ELECTION.

AND MANY OF MY COLLEAGUES SAID THE SAME THING OF BOTH PARTIES AROUND THE COUNTRY THIS LAST YEAR.

SO HAVING SOMEONE WHO JUST SIMPLY FOLLOWS THE LAW AND MAKES SURE THAT THE RIGHT FOLKS WHO ARE LEGALLY ENTITLED TO BE AT THE TABLE AND CAST THOSE VOTES, THAT'S WHAT IT COMES DOWN TO AT THE END OF THE DAY.

>>LORENE: SO IN THE FEW MINUTES THAT ARE LEFT, I WOULD LIKE YOU TO TELL US ABOUT SB8, VOTER RIGHTS ACT AND WHAT IT IS GOING TO DO AND THAT PEOPLE CAN WATCH AS THE SESSION UNFURLS AND WE HOPE YOU AND THE GOVERNOR WHO WORKED VERY HARD TO GET THIS PASSED TO BROADEN VOTER ACCESS.

LET'S HEAR ABOUT IT.

>>MAGGIE: YEAH THERE ARE A NUMBER OF POLICIES THAT ARE GOING TO MAKE IT EASIER FOR EVERYDAY NEW MEXICANS, AND PARTICULARLY OUR NEW MEXICAN VOTERS WHO LIVE IN RURAL AREAS AND TRIBAL AREAS TO CAST THAT BALLOT.

WE ARE GOING TO EXPAND THE OPPORTUNITY TO REGISTER TO VOTE ONLINE, WE ARE GOING TO MAKE IT EVEN EASIER TO BE AUTOMATICALLY REGISTERED TO VOTE AT YOUR GOVERNMENT AGENCY WHEN YOU GO INTO GET YOUR LICENSE.

>>LORENE: A MOTOR VOTER.

>>MAGGIE: CORRECT.

WE ARE GOING TO MAKE ELECTION DAY A HOLIDAY, WE ARE GOING TO RESTORE THE RIGHTS OF FORMERLY INCARCERATED FOLKS SO THAT THEY CAN VOTE RIGHT AWAY AFTER THEY GET OUT OF JAIL.

WE ARE GOING TO PROTECT THE RIGHTS OF NATIVE AMERICAN VOTERS AND I THINK MOST IMPORTANTLY, AGAIN THIS IS EXPANDING ACCESS WHILE NOT COMPROMISING SECURITY.

THERE IS NOT ONE THING IN THIS BILL THAT THREATENS THE INTEGRITY OF OUR ELECTIONS AND IN FACT, I ARGUE THAT OUR ELECTIONS ONLY HAVE INTEGRITY WHEN THE MOST PEOPLE POSSIBLE CAN TURN OUT AND VOTE BECAUSE THAT IS THE ABSOLUTE BASIS OF OUR DEMOCRACY.

>>LORENE: YES.

>>MAGGIE: IS HEARING THE VOICES OF OUR CITIZENS.

>>LORENE: YEAH.

>>MAGGIE: WE NEED TO DO MORE.

WE ARE A BIG STATE HERE IN NEW MEXICO, WE HAVE A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT HAVE A HARD TIME MAKING IT TO THE BALLOT BOX.

WE NEED TO MAKE IT AS EASY FOR THEM AS WE CAN, THAT'S OUR JOB IN GOVERNMENT, I BELIEVE.

>>LORENE: WELL NOW I AM JUST GOING UNROLL THE RED CARPET AND TALK ABOUT DEMOCRACY AND VOTING BECAUSE THIS IS THE FOUNDATIONAL ACT.

>>MAGGIE: YES.

>>LORENE: IN A DEMOCRACY.

SO HOW CAN YOU ENCOURAGE PEOPLE BECAUSE SOMETIMES I THINK, OH MY GOD THE PANDEMIC, I DON'T WANT TO GO AND IT SNOWED, I DON'T WANT TO GO, YOU KNOW.

SO CAN YOU JUST GIVE A LITTLE PEP TALK, NOT THAT PEOPLE ARE VOTING RIGHT NOW BUT THEY CAN KIND OF REMEMBER WHEN THEY ARE THINKING, "OH, WHY BOTHER?"

>>MAGGIE: YOU KNOW I THINK ONE OF THE SILVER LININGS OF THE PANDEMIC WAS THAT I THINK SO MANY FOLKS WHO DIDN'T UNDERSTAND HOW GOVERNMENT ACTUALLY AFFECTED THEM IN THEIR DAILY LIVES, CAME TO REALIZE IN A VERY REAL WAY HOW MUCH THE GOVERNMENT HAS THE ABILITY TO AFFECT OUR DAILY LIVES, RIGHT?

AND THAT REALLY SPURRED A LOT OF PARTICIPATION, IN FACT THE MOST PARTICIPATION EVER IN A GENERAL ELECTION IN OUR NATION'S HISTORY AND IN OUR STATE'S HISTORY.

THAT WAS A BEAUTIFUL THING.

AND AGAIN THIS YOU KNOW THIS ISN'T ABOUT OUTCOMES, IT IS ABOUT VOTERS, ELIGIBLE CITIZENS PARTICIPATING IN HAVING THEIR VOICES HEARD NO MATTER WHICH WAY THE ELECTION GOES AT THE END OF THE DAY.

SO WHAT I WOULD JUST SAY TO FOLKS IS IF YOU GOT OUT IN THE CRAZY OF COVID AND YOU CAST YOUR BALLOT BY MAIL OR YOU WENT TO AN EARLY VOTING SITE OR AN ELECTION DAY SITE, I DO THINK VOTERS HAD A VERY GOOD EXPERIENCE GENERALLY IN 2020.

COME OUT AND DO IT AGAIN, BECAUSE IT IS THAT HABITUAL PRACTICE OF EACH AND EVERY SINGLE ONE OF US MAKING OUR VOICE HEARD THAT IS GOING TO RESULT IN ELECTED OFFICIALS THAT LOOK LIKE US, THAT REPRESENT OUR VALUES, AND I MEAN ALL OF US.

I DON'T JUST MEAN DEMOCRATS, I DON'T JUST MEAN REPUBLICANS, I MEAN EVERY SINGLE ONE OF US AND THAT'S THE WAY WE ARE GOING TO HAVE A GOVERNMENT THAT REALLY REFLECTS OUR VALUES AND DOES WHAT "WE THE PEOPLE" WANT.

>>LORENE: IT REALLY IS "OF, BY AND FOR THE PEOPLE."

>>MAGGIE: ABSOLUTELY.

>>LORENE: SO THANK YOU SO MUCH.

OUR GUEST TODAY IS MAGGIE TOULOUSE OLIVER, WHO IS THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ALL YOU DO AND WE WILL WATCH HOW SENATE BILL 8 DOES.

>>MAGGIE: THANK YOU SO MUCH, LORENE.

>>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