December Wrap-Up Newsletter

December 31, 2025

Reflecting on 2025, Looking Ahead

As we close out the year, we want to pause—not just to recap December, but to reflect on what we’ve accomplished together in 2025 and to say thank you.

This year showed us, again and again, that democracy works best when a community is engaged, informed, and supported by dedicated public servants. Every outreach event, every innovation, every smooth Election Day was made possible by voters who showed up, asked questions, participated, and trusted the process.

Thank you for being part of that.

What's New at the Clerk's Office?

2025: A Year of Growth, Innovation, and Trust

In 2025, Santa Fe County reached new milestones in election administration, civic education, and voter access:

• Record participation in the Regular Local Election, with the highest turnout in county history and the second highest in the state.
• New Mexico’s first Vote by Appointment pilot, offering voters more choice, predictability, and accessibility.
• Expanded our first in New Mexico KidsVote and youth programs, helping future voters build confidence and civic literacy.
• Livestreamed Ranked Choice Voting tabulation quickly, strengthening transparency and public trust. We were the first Class A county to finish on election night—nearly 24 hours ahead of the other county using ranked choice voting.
• Expanded permanent absentee (“Pajama Voting”) access, supporting voters who prefer to vote from home.
• Community-driven projects, from the “I Voted” sticker contest to naming our ballot sorter using Ranked Choice Voting.
• Professional excellence, including Clerk Katharine E. Clark earning the national CERA certification (1 of only 2 clerks who hold it) and staff participating in statewide and national election training.

These accomplishments weren’t isolated projects—they were part of a shared commitment to making elections more secure, accessible, transparent, and community-centered.

December: Closing the Year with Gratitude

December gave us a chance to debrief and close out processes, complete final audits and certifications, and reflect on a successful election cycle. Behind the scenes, our team wrapped up post-election procedures, planning sessions, and internal improvements that set us up for a strong midterm election year ahead.

But more than anything, December reminded us that elections are never a solo effort.

Thank You to Our Partners

Elections are a team sport—and we are deeply grateful to everyone who helps make them possible. Our county colleagues provide steadfast support across departments, keeping operations running smoothly year-round. Our election workers and temporary staff show up early, stay late, and serve voters with professionalism and care. We also appreciate our vendors and technology partners, who help ensure accuracy, security, and reliability at every stage. Collaboration with our fellow counties and the New Mexico Secretary of State’s Office strengthens election administration statewide, while community partners, schools, nonprofits, and volunteers help us reach voters where they are.

And, of course, thank you to Santa Fe County voters—for participating in record numbers, asking thoughtful questions, giving feedback, and engaging in your democracy.

Looking Ahead to 2026

The new year brings exciting opportunities:

• Expanding Vote by Appointment to additional locations
• Bringing KidsVote directly into schools to reach more students
• Growing our community advisory boards and outreach programs
• Continuing investments in accessibility, transparency, and voter education
• Strengthening election infrastructure to support growing participation

We enter the new year energized, grateful, and committed to continuous improvement—because democracy is not static, and neither is our work.

Thank you for trusting us, partnering with us, and participating in the democratic process. We’re honored to serve you, and we look forward to another year of meaningful civic engagement together.

Wishing you a safe, joyful, and hopeful New Year.

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