New Mexico's top election official: 'Overwhelmed' same-day voter registration system caused delays

New Mexico Secretary of State Maggie Toulouse Oliver said a week after Election Day that same-day voter registration was significantly delayed at polling places across the state, acknowledging the problem was worse and more widespread than her office previously had.

Toulouse Oliver described the issues Tuesday during a hearing with lawmakers, where they asked her about the election. Their constituents plus nonpartisan voter advocacy groups had reported hours-long waits on the final day of voting in the high-turnout election. Some advocates said frustrated voters leaving without casting ballots.

State Sen. Antoinette Sedillo López (D-Albuquerque) questioned Toulouse Oliver about the long lines.

“I went and made a big point in my district to say same day registration is available,” she said. “So I was just wondering what plans you have to fix that.”

Local clerks and the secretary of state’s office were inundated with voters and same-day registration requests. Toulouse Oliver responded to say that, by the time the state had added computer server space to speed up the process, county clerks were already behind in the queue


https://sourcenm.com/2024/11/13/new-mexicos-top-election-official-overwhelmed-same-day-voter-registration-system-caused-delays/