February Wrap-Up Newsletter

March 3, 2026

As preparations continue for the June 2, 2026 Primary Election, the Santa Fe County Clerk’s Office remained focused in February on civic education, legislative updates, and hands-on community engagement. From classroom visits to a schoolwide mascot election, our outreach team continued expanding opportunities for young voters to experience the democratic process firsthand — while also tracking important statewide policy developments that will appear on the November ballot.

What's New at the Clerk's Office?

THRIVE Community School Hosts Student Mascot Election

One of February’s most exciting events was a full-scale mascot election at THRIVE Community School. More than 300 students and staff participated in a student-led election to determine the school’s first official mascot. Using real voting equipment and customized ballots — including mascot images to support younger readers — students experienced a true-to-life election process that mirrored real-world procedures, including absentee participation for students who were absent on election day. After ballots were securely tabulated, Buffalo was selected as THRIVE’s first official mascot. The results were revealed during a celebratory schoolwide announcement, with staff members dressed as the two top finalists — Buffalo and Bisti Beast — who “faced off” before the winner was announced.

Beyond the excitement of choosing a mascot, the event introduced students to the fundamentals of ballot privacy, secure tabulation, and the role of election workers in protecting the integrity of the voting process. By introducing students to the basic steps of marking and casting a ballot, the event supports the Clerk’s Office’s broader goal of strengthening future voter participation in Santa Fe County. The Clerk’s Office extends its appreciation to Liberty Vote for providing technical assistance and waiving ballot programming fees to help make this civic education experience accessible to the school community.

SJR 1 Advances to the Ballot

In February, Senate Joint Resolution 1 (SJR 1) passed the New Mexico Legislature and will now be placed before voters as a proposed constitutional amendment in the 2026 General Election.

SJR 1 would remove a 114-year-old provision in New Mexico’s Constitution requiring school elections to be held separately from partisan elections. That requirement dates back to 1910, when women were permitted to vote only in school elections and were excluded from general elections. While that framework reflected the legal realities of the early 20th century, it no longer aligns with modern voting rights or election administration practices.

Today, school districts are the only special district in New Mexico constitutionally required to hold separate elections. Allowing school bond questions to appear on general election ballots would reduce administrative complexity, lower costs, and potentially increase participation — while eliminating outdated constitutional language rooted in unequal voting access.

SJR 1 has been a long-standing legislative priority of the New Mexico Clerks’ Affiliate, a bipartisan statewide association representing county clerks and election administrators. Santa Fe County Deputy Clerk Rosangela Ortiz, who was recently re-elected as Chair of the Clerks’ Affiliate, helped lead the Affiliate’s coordinated efforts to elevate the resolution during the legislative session.

Under Ortiz’s leadership, the Affiliate has advanced practical, voter-centered improvements across two legislative sessions. Last year, clerks successfully supported legislation modernizing the marriage license fee structure to better sustain county operations statewide. This year, SJR 1 represents another collaborative effort shaped by the operational expertise of county clerks.

The measure will only take effect if approved by voters in the General Election. As it approaches the ballot, the Santa Fe County Clerk’s Office will continue to provide clear, nonpartisan information to help voters understand the proposed amendment.

KidsVote: Democracy Delivered Expands Across Santa Fe County

Youth civic engagement remains one of the Santa Fe County Clerk’s Office’s primary long-term priorities. Voter participation rates are consistently lowest among the youngest eligible voters, and addressing that gap requires more than reminders before Election Day — it requires early, positive exposure to the democratic process.

In February, the Clerk’s Office continued expanding its KidsVote: Democracy Delivered program with classroom visits to Nava Elementary and César Chávez Elementary Schools.

Third-grade students participated in interactive lessons about how elections work, why voting matters, how to correctly mark a ballot, and how election workers protect ballot security and voter privacy. Students then cast ballots using official voting equipment, giving them the opportunity to experience firsthand how votes are securely tabulated and how election procedures function in real time.

Research consistently shows that voting is a learned, habit-forming behavior. Early exposure to civic participation can significantly increase the likelihood that individuals remain engaged as they grow older. By bringing election demonstrations directly into classrooms, the Clerk’s Office removes transportation and cost barriers while helping build familiarity, trust, and confidence in the electoral process long before students are eligible to cast a real ballot.

Through initiatives like KidsVote: Democracy Delivered, the Clerk’s Office is working intentionally to strengthen long-term civic participation in Santa Fe County by investing in the next generation of voters.

Clerk Clark Receives 2026 EVN Innovation Award

In February, Santa Fe County Clerk Katharine E. Clark was named the recipient of the 2026 Election Verification Network (EVN) Innovation Award, recognizing the Clerk’s Office for developing a machine-assisted hand tally system that strengthens election verification and auditing.

The award highlights Santa Fe County’s work modernizing one of the most resource-intensive and error-prone aspects of election administration: manually counting ballots that cannot be read by tabulation machines. Under Clerk Clark’s leadership, the office developed and piloted a standardized digital hand tally workflow in partnership with ROBIS. The system incorporates digital data entry, unique ballot identifiers, and a two-step bipartisan verification process that compares independently entered results in real time and flags discrepancies before canvass.

During the 2024 General Election, more than 1,200 ballots were processed using this system. The two-step verification process reduced traditional hand tally error rates from approximately four percent to zero percent, while also decreasing overtime and post-election correction work.

Beyond improving routine hand tally procedures, the system strengthens operational resilience. In the event tabulation equipment is unavailable due to mechanical failure, certification issues, or emergency contingencies, Santa Fe County now has a standardized, auditable workflow capable of accurately hand tabulating ballots at scale.

Clerk Clark will receive the award in person at the Election Verification Network Conference in Washington, D.C., this March. The recognition reflects the dedication of Santa Fe County’s elections staff and the office’s continued commitment to accuracy, transparency, and public trust.

Looking Ahead & Important Election Dates

Looking Ahead & Important Election Dates

While outreach continues, the Clerk’s Office is now shifting focus toward preparation for the upcoming Primary Election.

In the months ahead, the Clerk’s Office will:

• Continue expanding youth civic education initiatives
• Provide voter education regarding the new semi-open primary system
• Share nonpartisan information about SJR 1 as it approaches the General Election ballot
• Prepare polling locations and staff for the June Primary

We appreciate the continued engagement of voters, educators, community partners, and election workers across Santa Fe County. Secure and accessible elections are a team effort — and we are proud to serve our community year-round.

May 5, 2026 – Early voting begins at the Santa Fe County Clerk’s Office.

May 5, 2026 – Absentee (mail-in) ballots begin mailing to voters who have requested them.

May 16, 2026 – Expanded early voting begins at additional early voting locations throughout the county.

May 19, 2026 – Last day to request an absentee (mail-in) ballot (must be received by this date).

May 30, 2026 – Last day of early voting at expanded early voting locations.

June 2, 2026 – Primary Election Day (Polls open 7:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m.).

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