election integrity

Major election integrity win: Rio Rancho rejects attempt to scrap local voter ID

15 Comments / New Mexico, News, Politics / By

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.

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SOS stumbles through podcast—trashes voter ID while hinting at political future

23 Comments / Editorial, New Mexico, News, Politics / By

In yet another display of arrogance and dishonesty, New Mexico Secretary of State Maggie Toulouse Oliver took to the Santa Fe New Mexican’s Around the Roundhouse podcast with reporter Daniel Chacón this week to once again incoherently peddle her far-left talking points—doubling down on her tired claim that New Mexico’s elections are “secure” and launching another baseless attack on commonsense voter ID laws, while struggling to formulate coherent answers, filling in inarticulate responses with “um,” “you know,” and so many other filler words to string together what barely passed as adequate replies.

Toulouse Oliver, who’s held office since 2016 thanks to a cushy political machine, wasted no time patting herself on the back for what she called New Mexico’s “number one” election integrity ranking, a laughable assertion given the state’s lax election security and refusal to adopt meaningful safeguards. While conservative states across the country have enacted voter ID laws to prevent fraud and bolster public trust, Toulouse Oliver continued to insist, despite mounting evidence to the contrary, that voter ID requirements are unnecessary.

“If you show me a problem, I will help advocate for the solution,” she declared, dismissing the very real concerns of voters who have repeatedly pointed to gaps in election security. Toulouse Oliver had the audacity to claim that voter impersonation is “extremely rare” and that enforcing ID laws is a “huge barrier” that risks disenfranchising voters. Her favorite excuse? That people might “forget” their ID, or that a poor record-keeping clerk might make a typo—arguments so flimsy they wouldn’t pass muster in a freshman debate class.

Her hostility toward voter ID and other election integrity measures is nothing new. During the podcast, she boasted about New Mexico joining lawsuits against the Trump administration for pushing election security reforms, calling the president’s efforts an “overreach” and whining about supposed “unfunded mandates.” Never mind that these are basic protections to ensure only eligible voters cast ballots—something any reasonable American would support.

Not surprisingly, Toulouse Oliver painted herself as a long-suffering public servant battling “misinformation” and “conspiracy theories,” conveniently ignoring that mistrust in elections has skyrocketed under her watch. Her solution? More tech upgrades and expanding vote-by-mail, despite glaring vulnerabilities exposed nationwide.

The Secretary also couldn’t resist hinting at her political ambitions. While playing coy about her next move, she floated finishing her PhD or potentially running for another office after her current term ends, the mark of her continued penchant to cling to power. She told Chacón, “Um, but you know, I’m still waiting to see, kind of, what the universe has … to offer up, and and um, I’ll just say never say never to running for future office. But, you know, I’m at the point where, you know, it will be 20 years in public service. And that — that’s a long career in public service.” She previously unsuccessfully ran for U.S. Senate against then-U.S. Rep. Ben Ray Luján, who ended up being elected U.S. senator. 

Even more concerning is Toulouse Oliver’s push for automatic voter registration—another way to inflate the rolls and weaken safeguards. Starting this summer, every New Mexican visiting the Motor Vehicle Division will be automatically registered to vote unless they actively opt out, further eroding the integrity of the process. She also advocated for voters who refuse to select a party affiliation, meddling in Republican, Democrat, and Libertarian Party primaries. 

As New Mexico stares down crucial upcoming elections, Toulouse Oliver’s podcast appearance was a reminder of what happens when radical Democrats are allowed to run elections unchecked: endless excuses, no accountability, and policies that put partisan gain above secure, fair elections. Voters should be more vigilant than ever.

With Toulouse Oliver’s track record of opposing voter ID, expanding ballot access without adequate safeguards, and cozying up to left-wing activist groups, New Mexicans have every reason to be alarmed—and to demand better.

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SOS Toulouse Oliver freaks out as U.S. House passes key election integrity bill

40 Comments / New Mexico, News, Politics / By

The U.S. House of Representatives made a decisive move this week to protect the integrity of American elections by passing the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act, a bill that ensures only U.S. citizens are allowed to register and vote in federal elections. Despite bipartisan support for the common-sense measure, all three of New Mexico’s Democrat representatives—Teresa Leger Fernández, Melanie Stansbury, and Gabe Vasquez—voted against the bill, aligning themselves with far-left opposition rather than standing up for election integrity.

The SAVE Act mandates that individuals provide documented proof of U.S. citizenship when registering to vote in federal elections—an overwhelming majority of Americans believe this requirement already exists. Shockingly, in many states, including New Mexico, voter registration processes do not require verified documentation of citizenship, leaving gaping holes in the system that could be exploited.

Yet, instead of praising this step toward greater public confidence in elections, prominent New Mexico Democrats erupted in outrage.

“Rest assured, I am a definite NO on the SAVE Act,” wrote U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich, telegraphing his opposition before the Senate even considers the bill.

New Mexico Secretary of State Maggie Toulouse Oliver issued a lengthy statement criticizing the legislation, calling it a threat to voter accessibility. “This legislation would impose stringent proof-of-citizenship requirements that threaten to disenfranchise many eligible voters in our state,” she said, suggesting erroneously that the bill would harm Native Americans, rural voters, and women who’ve changed their names after marriage.

Oliver also made the dubious claim that noncitizen voting is “exceedingly rare,” calling the bill “a solution in search of a problem.” However, recent polling and investigations have shown growing concerns among Americans over the possibility of voter fraud, particularly in states with lax voter registration requirements. The SAVE Act directly addresses those concerns by closing loopholes and reinforcing the principle that U.S. elections should be decided by U.S. citizens—nothing more, nothing less.

Most notably, freshman Rep. Gabe Vasquez, who faces a tough reelection battle in a battleground district, is now on record opposing a bill to prevent noncitizens from voting in federal elections. This position may prove politically toxic as Vasquez’s Republican challenger is certain to hammer him for putting partisan politics over secure elections.

While Democrats like Heinrich, Oliver, and Vasquez paint the bill as draconian, many Americans view the SAVE Act as a much-needed, commonsense safeguard. It’s no wonder the bill passed with bipartisan support. In an era where trust in elections has waned, requiring proof of citizenship to vote is a rational and fair way to help restore faith in the system.

New Mexico voters, especially those in competitive districts, may want to ask themselves: Why are their elected officials so afraid of proving citizenship at the ballot box?

With the SAVE Act now headed to the U.S. Senate, the spotlight turns to Sens. Heinrich and Luján. Will they continue to side with fringe voices, or will they stand up for the sanctity of American elections?

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Toulouse Oliver’s office melts down over Trump’s bold election security move

31 Comments / New Mexico, News, Politics / By

In a bold move to safeguard America’s elections, President Donald Trump signed an executive order aimed at tightening voting requirements and ensuring that only legal citizens can cast ballots, a commonsense measure that most Americans agree with. 

The order mandates that states require proof of citizenship for voter registration and limits the counting of mail-in ballots that arrive after Election Day—a practice that has fueled distrust in election outcomes.

While election integrity advocates and constitutionalists praised the executive order, it immediately sparked outrage from left-wing groups that have long resisted efforts to secure America’s elections. Predictably, New Mexico’s Secretary of State Maggie Toulouse Oliver’s office wasted no time voicing its displeasure.

“It is important to emphasize, though, that elections are the constitutional purview of the states, except for narrowly focused congressional actions,” said Secretary of State spokesman Alex Curtas. He admitted the office was still analyzing the executive order, adding that “the public should anticipate legal efforts to oppose this executive order.”

Election Integrity: A Core Priority for Trump

President Trump has long been a champion for election security, a cause that resonates with millions of Americans who witnessed widespread irregularities and questionable practices during the 2020 election. The executive order is a direct response to these concerns, reinforcing the need for secure, transparent elections where every legal vote counts—and only legal votes count.

The order would also ensure that states receiving federal funds comply with stronger election integrity measures, which many believe is a necessary step to prevent fraud and abuse in the system.

Leftist Groups Threaten Lawsuits to Protect Loopholes

Unsurprisingly, leftist organizations quickly announced plans to challenge Trump’s order in court. The League of Women Voters of the United States, known for opposing election integrity measures, called the executive order “an assault on our republic and a dangerous attempt to silence American voters.” Their chief counsel, Marcia Johnson, went so far as to label the order “plainly unlawful” and vowed to use “every tool at our disposal” to fight it.

The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), another predictable opponent of common-sense election reforms, described the order as “a significant overreach of executive power” and promised to take legal action. “We will see President Trump in court,” threatened Sophia Lin Lakin, director of the ACLU’s Voting Rights Project.

New Mexico SOS’ Office Aligns with Anti-Integrity Forces

In line with national leftist efforts to challenge election security, New Mexico’s Secretary of State’s office, led by Democrat Maggie Toulouse Oliver, is positioning itself to resist these reforms. Curtas confirmed the office is “working closely with the New Mexico Department of Justice to analyze the impact of this executive order on New Mexico’s voters and election administrators.”

This move underscores the SOS office’s consistent resistance to meaningful election integrity efforts, despite growing concerns about vulnerabilities in mail-in voting and voter registration systems.

Americans Demand Secure Elections

Despite the manufactured outrage from activist groups, millions of Americans support stronger voter ID laws and tighter election controls. Requiring proof of citizenship is a common-sense measure to ensure that non-citizens do not dilute the votes of legitimate American voters. Mail-in ballots arriving days after Election Day create uncertainty and undermine trust in the system—something President Trump is determined to fix.

By standing firm on election integrity, President Trump is answering the call of countless Americans who want fair and transparent elections. His executive order sends a clear message: the days of loose election standards and questionable practices are over.

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NM SOS accuses Piñon Post editor of threats for asking about voter ID

45 Comments / New Mexico, News, Politics / By

In a strange turn of events, far-left Democrat New Mexico Secretary of State Maggie Toulouse Oliver accused state Rep. John Block (R-Alamogordo), the editor and founder of the Piñon Post, of making threats and harassing her via X, formerly Twitter, cooking up a conspiracy after he asked her about implementing voter ID in the state. She later declared she was going dark on the platform following backlash after she laughed at constituents about voter ID, changing her account “@NMSOSMaggie” to private, although the use of her title makes the page public — a violation of law, according to the U.S. Supreme Court.

Toulouse Oliver’s departure from the platform came shortly after the general election, during which she sought to share insights into election results and processes. However, she claimed that some of the backlash, including alleged threats and harassment, originated from Block, who did not make such threats.

During a legislative committee meeting, Toulouse Oliver accused unnamed members of the committee of contributing to the toxic environment online. Later, her office singled out Rep. Block, labeling him and Piñon Post a “frequent purveyor of false and misleading information” about elections. Block has been vocal in his push for voter ID laws in New Mexico and has criticized Toulouse Oliver’s stance against such measures.

“I wouldn’t say that he was like, the ring leader, but he was certainly getting in on the pile-on and, I think, helping to foment the anger and some of the nasty comments,” she said to one outlet.

In response, Block told the Santa Fe New Mexican, “If she thinks that asking questions about why she doesn’t support voter ID is a threat, then she’s got the thinnest skin I’ve ever seen in my life,” emphasizing that political debate should not be conflated with harassment. He further argued that Toulouse Oliver’s characterization of criticism as harassment reflects an attempt to silence dissent and control the narrative around New Mexico’s elections.

Toulouse Oliver, who has historically opposed voter ID measures, reiterated her belief that such laws are unnecessary. “That is a solution in search of a problem,” she said during the committee meeting, dismissing Block’s proposals as lacking evidence of widespread voter fraud.

The tension escalated after Toulouse Oliver shared that she would file a report with law enforcement regarding the threats she faced, which she said were “egged on” by Block’s rhetoric. Block countered by highlighting the lack of evidence directly tying him to any threatening behavior and called her allegations politically motivated. “The secretary of state is probably the biggest purveyor of propaganda, fake news, lies, and clearly orchestrated headlines to get attention,” he charged, framing her accusations as a tactic to deflect from genuine questions about election security.

Block’s criticism of Toulouse Oliver’s opposition to voter ID laws has resonated with many New Mexicans, particularly given polling that shows broad support for such measures, with Gallup finding 84% of Americans support the commonsense measure that upholds election security. 

While Toulouse Oliver maintains that her resistance stems from concerns about voter suppression, Block and his supporters see it as dismissing legitimate concerns about election integrity.

This clash highlights a broader debate on voter security in New Mexico. For Block, questioning election policies and advocating for voter ID is about protecting democracy. 

For Toulouse Oliver, such benign questions represent a dangerous incitement that threatens election officials, and it appears she is not open to the will of the people of New Mexico.

NM Sec. of State Maggie Toulouse Oliver laughs at constituents who want voter ID

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