In a decisive move Thursday night, the Rio Rancho City Council voted against a controversial proposal that would have eliminated the city’s long-standing voter ID requirement for local elections. Mayor Gregg Hull praised the decision as a victory for election integrity and local control. After the 3-3 failed vote, audience members could be heard clapping and celebrating on the council’s webcast.
The ordinance, known as Ordinance 13, sought to bring Rio Rancho’s municipal elections under the umbrella of the state’s election system—a move that would have scrapped the city’s voter ID requirement in favor of state-managed rules. Proponents argued the change could save taxpayers hundreds of thousands of dollars by consolidating elections with the November cycle. However, critics warned it would weaken safeguards designed to ensure that only eligible voters cast ballots in city elections.
Mayor Hull, who recused himself from deliberations due to his gubernatorial campaign, issued a forceful statement following the council’s vote. “I am pleased that the Council voted to maintain control of our local elections,” Hull said. “It’s a shame that the legislature and the Secretary of State put our City and our Council in the impossible position to decide between the safety and security of our elections or to protect the hard-earned dollars of our taxpayers.”
Hull’s opposition to state-led municipal election mandates isn’t new. In 2017, as chairman of the New Mexico Mayors Caucus, he publicly opposed House Bill 174, which attempted to centralize local election oversight at the state level. “Local elections should be free from government overreach,” Hull reiterated in his statement. “I am thrilled that we are preserving voter intent by securing Voter ID and safeguarding our right to operate our city elections.”
But while an editorial from the Rio Rancho Observer supported moving elections to November to alleviate these costs, the editorial expressed alarm over parts of Ordinance 13 that would have extended the terms of several elected officials by nearly two years, without voter approval. “It leaves the residents of the city without a voice in who their elected representatives are for 21 months,” the editorial warned. The publication called on the council to revise the ordinance to hold elections in November 2025, rather than extending current terms through 2027 and 2029.
Despite the debate over timing and costs, Mayor Hull made clear that voter ID is a non-negotiable safeguard for the city’s elections. “If elected Governor in 2026, I will prioritize passing statewide Voter ID laws that protect legally registered voters and the integrity of our elections, while allowing municipalities to govern their own election laws and processes,” Hull pledged.
The rejection of the ordinance marks a rare rebuke of state influence over local election procedures. “Today we witnessed the amount of power Santa Fe will wield to get what they want, only this time they failed to meet the moment,” Hull said. “Rio Rancho continues to be a beacon of hope, of common sense, and a city that answers only to the people who call it home.”
Rio Rancho voters can be assured that their elections will remain under local control, and their voter ID protections intact.
A huge victory for democracy.
Thank the council members who voted to keep Voter ID and not ignore the voters spoken wants of Voter ID in the past!!! Thank you councilors for listening and action on the people’s input.
respectfully
Jean Montoya a voter in Rio Rancho.
How is it possible that there exists such a reasonable and common-sense community like Rio Rancho right next door to the Albuquerque liberal cesspool?
Bravo Rio Rancho & Mayor Hull. We need you to bring your common sense election policy to Santa Fe. We need you as Governor. Hope the Piñon Post is a vocal supporter of of your candidacy. I will be. 🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸
Please publish who voted for and against in the council 3-3 vote. If my local councilman voted against my choice, I would like to contact him.
Mayor Hull’s leadership. Let’s work to get him as our next Governor!
Ken the info on Rio Rancho Observer website
I’m pleased, but it was a win win for Mayor Hull who recused himself before the vote…better if he had spoken out forcefully before and rallied against the vote. Maybe he had done so in private but something about the way it was handled leaves a lot to be desired. With this city as a last stand eternal vigilance is required.
Mayor Hull has led the fight against this issue since 2017. He has always been for home rule elections. This was set forth 2-3 weeks after he indicated his intentions to run. The only ethical thing to do was recuse himself. His record on this is established. The councilors agreed to hear this in their 6-0 vote because the SOS has increased the cost so much. Here in Rio Rancho it went from 45k to almost 450k to conduct home rule elections. Our councilors had a fiduciary obligation to tax payers to hear it and bring it forth, as the budgets for 2025-2026 are being finalized. Rio Rancho is 1 of 8 municipalities that are holding out.