October Wrap-Up Newsletter

November 7, 2025

October Highlights from the Santa Fe County Clerk’s Office

As the 2025 Regular Local Election comes to a close, our office is proud to reflect on another successful election season defined by strong voter participation, innovation, and community engagement. From expanded early voting options and smooth Election Day operations to new initiatives like Vote by Appointment and the second year of KidsVote, Santa Fe County once again demonstrated that accessible, transparent, and voter-centered elections are possible through teamwork and dedication. Below is a look back at Election Day, early voting, and the many efforts that helped make this year’s election our most successful Regular Local Election yet.

What's New at the Clerk's Office?

Election Day & Early Voting Recap

The 2025 Regular Local Election concluded on November 4, following several weeks of early voting and a full day of in-person Election Day turnout across Santa Fe County.

Santa Fe County voters showed strong participation this year — continuing a pattern of steady engagement in local contests. In total, 36,336 ballots were cast countywide.

Of those, 18,106 were cast during early voting and absentee voting and 18,740 were cast in person on Election Day. This balanced mix of early, absentee, and Election Day participation demonstrates the continued popularity of flexible voting options among Santa Fe County residents.

Turnout has steadily increased in every Regular Local Election since the first was held — reflecting growing engagement and trust in the process.

• 2019: 17.36%
• 2021: 24.18%
• 2023: 30.98%
• 2025: 31.8% (approx.)

This year’s results mark the highest Regular Local Election turnout in county history, showing that more residents are taking advantage of early, absentee, and Election Day options to make their voices heard.

This year also marked the launch of Vote by Appointment, a pilot program unique to Santa Fe County and the first of its kind in New Mexico. The initiative allowed voters to schedule a specific time to cast their ballots during early voting — designed to reduce wait times, provide flexibility, and ensure a more comfortable experience for those who prefer a quieter or accessible environment.

Families also participated in our 2^nd year of KidsVote, where young residents had the opportunity to practice democracy firsthand. Using real tabulators and mock ballots, students learned how elections work and how every vote is counted. Programs like KidsVote help nurture lifelong civic habits and encourage family conversations about participation and trust in the process.

On Election Day, voting ran smoothly across all 32 polling sites. The Clerk’s Office extends sincere appreciation to every poll worker and election staff member who helped make the day a success — and to the thousands of voters who made their voices heard.

Election Night Results & Transparency in Action

After the polls closed, the Santa Fe County Clerk’s Office continued its commitment to transparency by livestreaming the Ranked Choice Voting (RCV) tabulation rounds for the mayoral and city council races.

Voters, candidates, and members of the media were able to watch democracy in motion — observing each round as votes were transferred and candidates were eliminated until one achieved a true majority. The livestream offered an inside look at the careful, bipartisan process that ensures every vote is counted accurately and fairly.

A full recording of the livestream is available here.

Unofficial election results are now available from the New Mexico Secretary of State’s Office.

You can also see a breakdown of the RCV rounds here.

This open, public process reflects the Clerk’s Office’s ongoing dedication to accessible, secure, and transparent elections — giving voters confidence that every ballot is verified, counted, and reported according to state law.

Honoring Santa Fe County’s Election Heroes

On November 3, 2025, the Santa Fe County Clerk’s Office joined partners across the country in celebrating Election Hero Day — a national, nonpartisan day of recognition for the election officials, poll workers, and staff who make our democracy possible.

From staffing polling places to securely processing ballots and ensuring every voter has access to the ballot box, these dedicated community members are the foundation of our elections. They work long hours behind the scenes to ensure each vote is counted accurately, securely, and transparently.

“Every person who contributes to the election process — from poll workers to our full-time election staff — plays a critical role in maintaining public trust in our democracy,” said Clerk Katharine E. Clark. “Election Hero Day is a chance to pause and thank them for their professionalism, patience, and integrity.”

Santa Fe County is proud to celebrate Election Hero Day alongside hundreds of organizations and jurisdictions nationwide. First established in 2020, the event honors the countless local officials, clerks, directors, office staff, and volunteers who dedicate their time and expertise to ensuring that elections are safe, secure, and accessible to all.

To learn more about the movement and how to participate in future celebrations, visit electionheroday.org

Looking Ahead: Building Election Excellence

As the 2025 Regular Local Election moves to the canvass and audit process the Santa Fe County Clerk’s Office is proud to reflect on a year defined by innovation, transparency, and community engagement. Every initiative — from new technology to civic education — was designed with one goal in mind: to make our elections more secure, accessible, and trusted than ever before.

This year’s highlights included:

• Vote by Appointment – The Clerk’s Office launched its Vote by Appointment pilot program — a first-in-New-Mexico initiative that allows voters to schedule a specific time to cast their ballot, offering greater flexibility and comfort for those who prefer to plan ahead and skip the line. The program was designed to make early voting more convenient and accessible for everyone, particularly voters who appreciate a quieter or more predictable experience. The Clerk’s Office plans to expand Vote by Appointment to additional locations in future elections and is excited to continue offering this convenient way to vote as turnout grows.
• Ballot Sorter Naming– The Clerk’s Office’s Ballot Sorter continues to improve accuracy and transparency in the absentee ballot process. By automatically opening and sorting envelopes, it helps the team stay ready for Santa Fe County’s growing number of permanent absentee, or “Pajama,” voters who choose to vote from home each election. The sorter also provides near-real-time tracking updates and maintains a clear chain of custody for every ballot. Voters can even take part in naming the sorter through a fun community contest using a Ranked Choice ballot.
• “Pajama Voting” Accessibility – Santa Fe County has the most ballot drop boxes per capita in New Mexico, enabling drive-up voting convenience and ensuring secure, 24-hour access to the ballot box for every voter. Our list of permanent absentee, or “Pajama,” voters continues to grow each year as more residents discover this popular and convenient way to vote from the comfort of home.
• KidsVote – The Clerk’s Office also continued its KidsVote program, which gives young residents a chance to experience democracy firsthand. Using real tabulators and mock ballots, students learn how elections work — from casting a vote to seeing results tallied — helping them understand that their voices matter. Looking ahead, the Clerk’s Office plans to bring KidsVote directly to schools throughout the year, reducing the logistical and cost barriers of organizing field trips and making civic education accessible to even more students across Santa Fe County. 
• Informed Citizen Training – The Clerk’s Office also launched its new Informed Citizen Training, a public education initiative designed to help residents understand how elections truly work — from voter registration and ballot security to post-election audits and certification. This program is part of the Clerk’s broader effort to build an educated voting population and strengthen our democracy against the spread of misinformation. By showing participants what happens behind the scenes, the training promotes transparency, confidence, and trust in the election process. Offered online and self-paced, it’s accessible to anyone who wants to learn more about how votes are protected and counted in Santa Fe County. Residents who complete the course receive a certificate recognizing their commitment to informed, engaged citizenship.

• “I Voted” Sticker Contest – engaging the community through art and Ranked Choice Voting, giving residents a fun and creative way to participate in civic life while practicing the same ballot format used in local elections. The winning sticker design from this year’s contest was featured on every ballot and handed out to voters throughout the Regular Local Election — and they were a hit! Voters loved collecting and sharing the new design, making it one of the most popular elements of this year’s election experience.

• Accessible Voting Resources – The Clerk’s Office continues to expand tools that make voting more accessible for every resident. The new Accessible Voting webpage brings together information on accessible voting options, assistive technology available at polling places, and resources for voters who may need accommodations. It also features detailed Polling Site Guides with photos, directions, and notes on ADA parking and building access—helping voters plan ahead with confidence.

Looking ahead, the Clerk’s Office will continue to strengthen election infrastructure, expand outreach to underrepresented communities, and enhance the voter experience through data-informed improvements and technology upgrades.

Together, these efforts form the foundation of Election Excellence — Santa Fe County’s ongoing commitment to a voting process that is secure, transparent, inclusive, and community-driven.

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