Katharine Clark Statement
On Executive Order
Earlier this week, President Trump issued an Executive Order that threatens how we vote here in New Mexico.
This sweeping order would force voters to submit limited federal documents to register perhaps blocking online voter registration, potentially banning states from curing ballots after Election Day — even when state law allows it — and require new voting equipment that doesn’t even exist yet. All on an impossible timeline, with no funding, no technical support, and no input from the people who actually run elections.
Let me be clear: New Mexicans don’t need executive overreach overriding what we do right.
New Mexico is ranked #1 in the nation for election administration, and Santa Fe County leads the state in turnout and performance. That’s not by accident. It’s because my office works hard, we listen to our voters, and we believe every New Mexican deserves to be heard—no matter where they live.
That’s why I’ve been taking action:
•I’ve sponsored and passed every election-related resolution I’ve brought to the National Association of Counties (NACo).
•I’ve sponsored or co-sponsored 83% of all national election-related NACo policy in the last year—well above the next highest contributor at just 16%.
•In the Trump 2.0 era, I’m the only elected official in the nation who has carried election policy to NACo in Washington to fight for protecting elections and election resources.
Because of my resolutions, NACo has:
•Reaffirmed and strengthened its opposition to unfunded federal mandates
•Demanded that counties be consulted before any changes to the U.S. Postal Service that affect vote-by-mail
•Called for federal support for county-led voter registration, instead of top-down mandates
•Backed continued funding for EI-ISAC, the cybersecurity and threat-sharing hub relied on by election offices like ours
As a member of EI-ISAC’s executive committee, I’ve seen firsthand how it protects elections. And now, its funding is being cut and it’s being disbanded—just as we face more interference, not less.
When I went to Washington this March, I brought New Mexico’s voice with me. Santa Fe County is not just speaking for ourselves—we’re showing what leadership from New Mexico can look like on the national stage.
We are closely reviewing and monitoring the executive order and I will ensure we protect the right to vote above all else.
I’ll keep fighting for New Mexico voters and counties. And I’ll keep defending local control—because our democracy depends on it.
