OPINION: Fully funding our elections is essential to New Mexico's future

New Mexico’s election system is a model of efficiency, integrity and accessibility. Our commitment to fair and transparent elections earned us the No. 1 rank in election administration nationwide in 2024, and we continue to hold that title today. Maintaining this gold standard, however, requires sustained investment. Unfortunately, my office continues to face chronic underfunding.

My office remains steadfast in its mission to enhance election security, modernize administration and provide high-quality business services. These efforts come with increased responsibilities and costs. During my tenure, we have carefully managed taxpayer dollars to deliver cost-effective elections while implementing essential security measures. We work closely with state agencies and county clerks to strengthen these systems, but inadequate funding threatens our progress.

When funding dries up, county clerks are forced to stretch already limited staff and equipment, delay upgrades and divert local funds from other essential services just to keep elections running. In many rural and small counties, even modest funding gaps can mean fewer polling places, longer lines and reduced voter assistance.

Our fiscal year 2027 budget request reflects our actual operating needs, not expansion. The proposed $15.8 million request is consistent with prior years and demonstrates our commitment to efficiency. A flat budget does not mean reduced demands. Instead, it underscores how carefully we manage resources to uphold election integrity. While Senate Bill 108 has helped stabilize funding, ongoing operational costs remain.

One of our greatest challenges is the loss of federal support. Help America Vote Act (HAVA) and other federal funds have long supplemented our budget, supporting cybersecurity, physical security and voter access at the state and county levels. These funds have helped counties replace aging equipment, install ballot drop boxes and security cameras, and train election workers. Without them, local offices must shoulder these costs alone. As federal support declines, New Mexico must step in to fill the gap. Without full funding, election security, accessibility and vital business services are at risk.

Beyond elections, my office plays a critical role in business regulation and transparency. We recently modernized our Business Filing System and are implementing a new campaign finance reporting platform. These upgrades help businesses operate efficiently and ensure that campaign finance, lobbyist and financial disclosure reporting remains open and accessible to the public.

We are also focused on making services more accessible, expanding online filings and simplifying voter registration. We continue upgrading public-facing systems to protect against bad actors and evolving threats. This work requires reliable legislative support.

Our budget request also includes funding to make a temporary elections outreach coordinator position permanent. This role is essential for engaging young voters and underserved communities. Investing in civic education strengthens participation and builds trust in our democratic institutions.

Despite our lean operations, current budget recommendations from the Legislature and the executive branch fall short. Reduced personnel funding has limited our ability to recruit and retain qualified staff. This strain extends to county offices, where small teams are asked to manage increasingly complex elections with fewer resources and less support. Failure to address the loss of federal funding will also create future instability and lead to costly supplemental requests.

In an election year as important as this one, fully funding our fiscal year 2027 budget is essential. The security of our elections, the reliability of our business services and the confidence of New Mexico voters depend on it. Election security is a fundamental pillar of our democracy, not a partisan issue. By investing now, we can ensure New Mexico remains a national leader in transparent, secure, and accessible elections for years to come.

Maggie Toulouse Oliver is New Mexico's chief elections officer, serving as New Mexico's 26th and longest-serving secretary of state.