Voting and Elections

Although we certainly acknowledge that no system or process is perfect or impenetrable, we at the New Mexico Office of the Secretary of State believe that our elections are some of the most secure available in our nation. Here are some of the steps we take to ensure that your vote is counted accurately so that your voice is fully represented and heard loudly and clearly in New Mexico’s elections.

Paper Ballots

• Without exception, New Mexico uses paper ballots to record each and every citizen’s vote.
• Paper ballots allow auditing and verification of automated vote counting systems.
• Paper ballots enable us to recount a single race or an entire election should the need arise.

Air – Gapped Counting Systems

• Systems that count votes, aka tabulators, are prevented by law and process from being joined to a computer network or the Internet.
• Systems that sum votes at the county level are prevented by law and process from being joined to a computer network or the Internet.

Counting System Accuracy Testing

• Prior to every election, we test that our tabulators accurately count actual paper ballots with a known outcome. Furthermore, we confirm that they properly handle over-vote and under-vote conditions.
• Next, the expected outcome is checked at every step in our process in order to verify that the sums at the county and state levels are accurate, as are the results that are displayed on election results website.
• NOTE: The results displayed on election night are UNOFFICIAL. It would be impossible for New Mexico to count one hundred percent of the votes and meet its stringent auditing obligations in a single day.

Election Results Auditing

• Following an election, the results are canvassed or audited so that accuracy is ensured. Canvassing first happens at the county level utilizing a group of staff. Then it completed by a new team of staff at the state level. Finally, the results are audited by an independent contractor before they are forwarded to the New Mexico State Canvassing Board to be made official.
• New Mexico conducts a risk-limiting audit following every statewide election This process involves randomly selecting a few races and precincts throughout the state and hand counting the results in those precincts. The hand counted results are then compared to the normal machine counted results. Any discrepancies between the results are thoroughly investigated.

Security Assessments

• The Office of the New Mexico Secretary of State tests our information security defenses on a regular basis.
• We also work with government and private partners who validate and test our information security defenses.
• Such assessments may include reviews of documentation and process as well as varying degrees of computer and network hacking.
• Any identified issues are rapidly mitigated and corrected.

Voter Fraud

• New Mexico adheres to the principle of ‘One Person – One Vote’.
• Our systems alert staff who process voter registrations to situations where a citizen’s registration could be duplicated.
• Our systems monitor for and alert us to instances where a voter may have voted more than once in an election.
• New Mexico works with other state government partners to ensure the integrity of our voter rolls.
• We collaborate with other states via our membership in the Electronic Registration Information Center in order to verify our voter rolls across state lines.
• Last, but certainly not least, we depend on you, the fine citizens of New Mexico, to report suspicious or fraudulent activity. If you see something, say something.