November Wrap-Up Newsletter

December 5, 2025

November Highlights from the Santa Fe County Clerk’s Office

November was a month defined by secure elections, public transparency, and programs that bring civic learning to life. From piloting New Mexico’s first Vote by Appointment program, to livestreaming Ranked Choice Voting tabulation rounds, to expanding hands-on youth engagement through KidsVote, the Santa Fe County Clerk’s Office continued its commitment to making elections more accessible, accurate, and community-centered. We also completed every step of the post-election process – from the county canvass to the statewide certification and full hand tally audit – reaffirming the professionalism and integrity of Santa Fe County’s election system.

What's New at the Clerk's Office?

KidsVote Recap: Preparing Future Voters Through Hands-On Learning

This month we wrapped up another successful season of KidsVote: Practice Makes Future Voters, a program that gives children a fun and interactive way to learn how elections work. Kids filled out practice ballots, cast votes on real tabulators, and received their own “I Voted” stickers – turning Election Day into a family experience and building lifelong voting habits. Santa Fe County pioneered KidsVote in 2024, and we were excited to see other counties follow our lead this year. As Clerk Clark noted, “These programs build civic understanding and trust in elections from an early age.”

Coming in 2026 — KidsVote: Democracy Delivered

Next year, we’re expanding access by bringing KidsVote directly to students, eliminating the transportation and cost barriers that can make field trips difficult. Any school interested in hosting KidsVote in 2026 — or arranging a Democracy101 visit for high school students — can reach out to the Voter Outreach Coordinator, Margaret Gouws, at megillett@santafecountynm.gov to get on the schedule.

Vote by Appointment: A First for New Mexico

Santa Fe County became the first county in New Mexico to pilot Vote by Appointment, offering voters the option to schedule a specific time to cast their ballot during early voting. Developed in partnership with Tyler Technologies, the pilot operated at four early voting locations during the Regular Local Election – and implementation was smooth and well received.

Poll workers reported the system was easy to manage, and voters appreciated the convenience and predictability of having a set time to vote.

“Santa Fe County strives to be a leader in election innovation,” said Clerk Clark. The Clerk’s Office plans to expand Vote by Appointment to additional sites in future elections, increasing flexibility and accessibility for voters countywide.

Election Night Transparency: Livestreaming Ranked Choice Voting

On Election Night, the Clerk’s Office once again demonstrated its commitment to transparency by becoming the first county in New Mexico to livestream the Ranked Choice Voting (RCV) tabulation rounds, giving voters, candidates, and media a real-time look at how votes were transferred and counted.

By letting the community observe every round and every step of the count, the Clerk’s Office helped strengthen trust in the election process.

After polls closed, Santa Fe County released election night results hours ahead of other counties, demonstrating both efficiency and a strong commitment to open, accurate reporting. Despite having Ranked Choice Voting races on the ballot, which adds complexity to tabulation, Santa Fe County still released results on Election Night, while the other county with RCV contests lagged a day behind. We are proud to have been the first Class A county in New Mexico to release election night results, and we extend our sincere thanks to every staff member, poll worker, and election partner who contributed to a smooth, transparent, and well-run election night.

BCC Certification: County Results Approved Unanimously

On November 14, Clerk Clark presented the official canvass of the 2025 Regular Local Election to the Board of County Commissioners (BCC). Commissioners voted unanimously to approve certification, confirming that every ballot was verified and balanced.

Clerk Clark highlighted the county’s strong turnout – with Election Day votes surpassing early and absentee totals – and emphasized improvements in transparency, accessibility, and innovation. Programs such as Vote by Appointment, expanded accessible voting resources, the “I Voted” sticker contest, and KidsVote were recognized as key contributions to a strong election cycle.

“This marks the first phase of certification,” Clark noted. Following county certification, results were sent to the Secretary of State for statewide review.

State Certification & Post-Election Audit: Accuracy Confirmed

By November 26, the Santa Fe County Clerk’s Office had completed every step of the post-election process: the county canvass, state certification, and the full hand tally audit of randomly selected precincts.

Post-Election Audit Findings

• Every polling site except one was opened and hand tallied.
• Hand tallies matched machine tabulations
• Clerk Clark’s custom hand tallying software improved organization, speed, and accuracy.
• Staff received hands-on training throughout the audit, supporting long-term succession planning.

The State Canvassing Board – the Governor, Secretary of State, and Chief Justice of the NM Supreme Court – formally certified all statewide results on November 25th. Independent observers also reported that Santa Fe County’s election was well administered, confirming that every polling location remained open until 7:00 p.m., no site closed early, and every voter who was in line by 7:00 p.m. was allowed to vote. Their preliminary report also noted smooth polling-site closures and a clear, easily observable absentee ballot process, reinforcing that Santa Fe County followed all state laws and best practices throughout Election Day and the post-election process.

“Our voters deserve elections that are accurate, fair, and fully verifiable,” Clerk Clark said. “This year showed once again that Santa Fe County is doing this work extremely well.”

Election Day Feedback

Did you vote at a Santa Fe County polling site? We want to hear from you. Your feedback helps us improve the voting experience for future elections. Please take a moment to complete our short voter experience survey here.

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