For Immediate Release:
October 14, 2020
Contact:
Matt Baca, Chief Counsel
New Mexico Office of the Attorney General
505-270-7148
mbaca@nmag.gov
Alex Curtas, Director of Communications
New Mexico Secretary of State’s Office
505-469-2783
alex.curtas@state.nm.us
Santa Fe, NM—Today, Secretary of State Maggie Toulouse Oliver and Attorney General
Hector Balderas issued an advisory to all New Mexicans, reminding them of their right to
participate in a free and fair election and providing critical information about the upcoming
general election.
“New Mexican voters should be informed, and they should be confident that their elections
are safe, secure, and free from intimidation” said Attorney General Balderas. “Secretary
Toulouse Oliver and I will ensure that the electoral process is conducted openly and
securely, and my office will hold anyone accountable who interferes with any New
Mexicans’ right to vote.”
“One of the best things for voter confidence and participation is clear information about
how to vote and what to expect when doing so,” said Secretary of State Maggie Toulouse
Oliver. “I’m happy to have partnered with the Attorney General’s Office on this voter
information advisory that will assist the public in answering some of the most pressing
questions around the 2020 General Election. Voters should know that they have multiple,
easy ways to vote in this election and they should contact trusted sources for election
information, like their county clerk or my Office.”
The advisory, issued today, details critical information for voters to know about how to
cast their vote in the general election and what to do if they have questions about casting
their vote. Topics include:
• Voter rights and how to find official information about the election;
• Key deadlines for participating in the election;
• What to expect when voting by absentee ballot;
• What to expect when voting in person;
• Who is allowed in a polling location and prohibited activity;
• The role of law enforcement in the electoral process;
• COVID-19 compliance in polling locations.
Attorney General Balderas and Secretary of State Toulouse Oliver remind and encourage
New Mexicans to be informed and to be vigilant when casting their votes. If any person
suspects that someone is intimidating them, harassing them, or otherwise interfering with
their right to vote, they encourage them to contact local law enforcement and call the
Attorney General’s voter protection hotline at 505-318-1008 immediately with this
information. The Attorney General and Secretary of State are partnering with state, local,
and federal agencies to ensure a fair and open election. Interference with the electoral
process will not be tolerated, and any violation of state law in connection with the election
will be assigned to a state prosecution unit and any federal violation will promptly be
referred to the FBI and the U.S. Attorney.