New Mexico Secretary of State to begin vote canvassing process Tuesday

Damien Willis, Organ Mountain News

SANTA FE - As New Mexico residents await the certification of election results, the state’s rigorous vote canvassing process is in full swing to ensure accuracy and transparency. Overseen by the Office of the Secretary of State, the canvass serves as a critical post-election procedure, confirming the integrity of the election.

The process begins at the county level, where county clerks verify vote totals from polling places, absentee ballots and early voting centers. This involves cross-referencing vote counts against poll books and addressing any discrepancies under strict bipartisan supervision. Once county canvassing boards finalize their reports, the data is forwarded to the Secretary of State’s office.

There, a statewide canvass is conducted, aggregating results from all 33 counties. The Secretary of State ensures compliance with election laws and verifies the accuracy of vote tallies. Any anomalies are resolved in consultation with county officials before the results are certified.

New Mexico Secretary of State Maggie Toulouse Oliver announced Monday on social media that the State Canvass Board will begin the official state canvass at 8 a.m. Tuesday, Nov. 26. A livestream of the process will be available on the Secretary of State's website at https://sos.nm.gov.

Damien Willis is founder and editor of Organ Mountain News. He can be reached at OrganMountainNews@gmail.com or on X at @damienwillis.