Secretary of state touts election integrity, while lamenting online threats and harassment

Nov. 12—SANTA FE — New Mexico's top election official told lawmakers Tuesday some provisional ballots are still being tallied around the state, after roughly 25,000 residents cast votes using same-day voter registration on Election Day last week.

Secretary of State Maggie Toulouse Oliver said the surge in voters seeking to register and vote on Election Day exceeded expectations and led to many voters having to cast provisional paper ballots via a process that requires subsequent verification by election workers.

"Frankly, we got overwhelmed with same-day registrations," Toulouse Oliver told members of the legislative Courts, Corrections and Justice Committee. "We could have never envisioned this many (applications) happening — now we know."

The Democratic secretary of state also told legislators she experienced online threats and harassment following the election.

"I am currently experiencing threats (and) harassment, even from some members of this committee online," Toulouse Oliver said.

That was a reference to state Rep. John Block, R-Alamogordo, who accused the secretary of state on social media of laughing "in our faces" in response to questions about whether New Mexico should adopt a voter identification requirement.

He also said on social media that voter fraud cost Republican Donald Trump the 2020 election, although no evidence supporting such a claim has been brought forward.

Block offered a qualified apology during Tuesday's hearing, saying he was sorry if the secretary of state had been the target of violent threats. But he also said he believed questions about political stances do not amount to harassment.

Toulouse Oliver told reporters after the hearing she accepted Block's apology, but said she has been in contact with law enforcement agencies about some of the online vitriol.

She said her attempt to interact with New Mexico voters via social media after the election ended up being "not productive" and that she decided to stop posting before threats escalated.

Before that, Toulouse Oliver said on X, formerly known as Twitter, that Trump had won this year's election outright and that she would not tolerate election-related "conspiracy theories."

Like other elections officials nationwide, Toulouse Oliver has in past years dealt with death threats via email and threatening phone calls.

In 2020, the secretary of state went into hiding for a period of time after her personal information was published on a website called "Enemies of the People," with targets over officials' photos.

State lawmakers in 2023 passed legislation making it a crime to intimidate election workers, but Toulouse Oliver said she will ask lawmakers during the upcoming 60-day legislative session to expand a separate law that allows some elected officials to keep their home addresses and other information confidential.

Meanwhile, Toulouse Oliver said in response to a question from Block that she does not support requiring voter ID, but said she would implement such a law if it's approved by lawmakers.

"My longtime position has been it's a solution in search of a problem," she said during Tuesday's committee hearing.

While some votes are still being counted and examined, Toulouse Oliver said 921,342 votes have been tallied as of Tuesday morning.

That represents about 67% voter turnout — down slightly from four years ago but above turnout levels from the 2012 and 2016 presidential election years.

Of those total votes, about 52,000 were cast using same-day voter registration, which was approved in 2019 but not enacted until 2021 in order to give county clerks ample time to prepare.

With New Mexico county clerks still conducting their post-election canvasses, this year's election results will not be finalized until later this month.

The State Canvassing Board could also authorize a state-paid recount in one legislative race — the Rio Rancho-based House District 57 race between Republican Catherine Cullen and Democrat Michelle Sandoval — that features a narrow vote margin.

The meeting of the canvassing board is scheduled for Nov. 26.