 Santa Fe County Commission and Clerk continue to fight for Santa Fe County voters
Santa Fe, NM - The Santa Fe County Board of County Commissioners voted unanimously on August 25 to approve a letter opposing the federal SAVE America Act, reaffirming the County’s commitment to secure, accessible elections and the voting rights of New Mexicans.
The action followed a presentation by Santa Fe County Clerk Katharine E. Clark and Lisa Cacari Stone, who brought the letter before the Commission. The letter urges New Mexico’s federal delegation to maintain their strong opposition to the SAVE act.
“Our elections are at risk,” Stone told the Board. “This letter commends New Mexico’s congressional delegation for opposing the SAVE America Act and asks them to continue opposing this legislation.” She added, “Election security and voter access do not have to be competing values.”
The SAVE America Act would impose new federal requirements for documentary proof of citizenship during voter registration and photo identification at the polls. Critics warn that the measure could require voters to present documents such as passports or birth certificates in person when registering or updating their registrations, potentially disrupting online and mail registration processes used in New Mexico.
Risks to New Mexico Voters
Clerk Clark emphasized that the effect on voters cannot be overstated. As vice chair of the Elections Subcommittee of the National Association of Counties’ Finance, Pensions and Intergovernmental Affairs Steering Committee, Clark has spent the past two years working on Capitol Hill with advocates to ensure federal officials understand the practical consequences counties would face under the proposal. Her work included sponsoring NACo resolutions designed to prevent the SAVE Act from imposing immediate, unfunded mandates on county election offices, while recognizing that U.S. citizenship is already required to vote in federal elections.
NACo has actively advocated and educated U.S. Senate officials about the bill’s potential impact on voters and local election administration nationwide. The legislation could force major changes to voter-registration and verification systems without dedicated federal funding for counties to implement them.
If enacted, the legislation could jeopardize online voter registration in New Mexico and other states, create new voter-roll verification and maintenance burdens, and require many voters to produce documents such as a passport or birth certificate to establish citizenship. The burdens could fall especially heavily on married women and others whose current names do not exactly match the names on their underlying citizenship documents. With the Senate scheduled to resume work following its August recess, Santa Fe County leaders said the need for local governments to speak plainly about the consequences of proposed election restrictions is immediate.
Urgent Federal Context
The Commission’s action comes as the U.S. Senate prepares to return from its August recess, when the SAVE America Act and related election restrictions are expected to reemerge in congressional debate. Senate leaders deferred action on a budget resolution that could open the door to a new reconciliation package until after the recess, and supporters have discussed using that process to advance portions of the SAVE America Act.
Budget reconciliation is especially consequential because it can allow certain provisions to advance in the Senate with a simple majority rather than the 60 votes ordinarily required to overcome a filibuster. A House-approved framework included up to $10 billion for voting-related changes associated with implementing elements of the SAVE America Act, though it remains uncertain which election-policy provisions could legally be included under the Senate’s reconciliation rules.
Postal Service Concerns
Clark also raised concerns about federal election-administration policies connected to President Trump’s March executive order. The order contemplates a process through which states may notify the U.S. Postal Service at least 90 days before a federal election that they intend to use USPS delivery for mail or absentee ballots and may submit voter-eligibility lists to USPS at least 60 days before the election.
Santa Fe County officials are concerned that such procedures, if paired with restrictive implementation or if existing legal protections are lifted, could undermine voters’ ability to request and receive absentee ballots. Clark warned that an expanded USPS role in determining ballot distribution could have serious consequences for absentee voters in Santa Fe County and across the country.
Commission Seeks Continued Action
Commissioner Justin Greene asked whether the Board could take additional formal action to make it clear that Santa Fe County opposes the legislation. Clerk Clark responded that she expects further opportunities for secretaries of state and state attorneys general to join the effort to protect established voting rights.
The Commission’s approved letter will now be transmitted to New Mexico’s congressional delegation.
Santa Fe County remains committed to election systems that are secure, accurate, transparent and accessible to every eligible voter. Find out more about the upcoming November 2026 Election and how you can still request your absentee ballot at SantaFe.vote.
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