Amanda Lopez Askin

Election security and access: What changes, if any, would you make to New Mexico’s election system to ensure both that every eligible voter can readily cast a ballot and that voters can have confidence that only eligible votes are counted?

As a county clerk, I've seen that access and security are not competing goals; we can and must do both. I would strengthen coordination with county clerks, invest in secure voting systems, maintain rigorous auditing and verification, protect election workers, and make accurate election information easy for voters to find. Every eligible New Mexican should be able to vote without unnecessary barriers, and every voter should trust that our elections are run professionally, securely, and lawfully.

Voter rolls and voter identification: What changes, if any, should New Mexico make to the way it maintains its voter rolls and verifies the identity and eligibility of voters, including whether the state should require photo identification to vote?

Accurate voter rolls are essential to secure elections. New Mexico should keep maintaining them with reliable state and federal records while ensuring eligible voters are not improperly removed. I support strong verification procedures, but not a photo ID requirement that creates needless obstacles for seniors, rural and Tribal voters, students, and others who struggle to obtain identification. We can verify eligibility and protect election integrity without making it harder for eligible New Mexicans to vote.

Federal versus state authority: The federal government and states have recently disagreed over access to voter information and authority over election administration. Under what circumstances should New Mexico provide voter

information to the federal government, and where should the secretary of state draw the line in resisting federal directives?

New Mexico should comply with lawful, appropriately limited federal requests that serve a legitimate purpose and protect voter privacy. The Secretary of State must also safeguard New Mexicans' personal information and defend the state's authority to run its elections. I would draw the line when a federal directive exceeds lawful authority, demands protected personal information without need, threatens voter privacy, or interferes with election administration. These decisions should rest on the law and voters' interests, not political pressure.  

Transparency and campaign finance: The secretary of state is responsible for campaign-finance reporting and other government transparency requirements in addition to administering elections. What changes would you make to improve disclosure, enforcement and public access to information about who is financing candidates and political campaigns in New Mexico?

New Mexicans deserve to know who is spending money to influence their elections. As Secretary of State, I would make campaign-finance data easier to search and understand, give candidates and committees clear reporting guidance, and enforce disclosure rules fairly and consistently. I would also keep modernizing our reporting systems and push for more timely, meaningful disclosure, so voters can see who is financing candidates, committees, and campaign advertising before they cast their ballots.

The Bulletin asked each Dona Ana County candidate four questions to allow voters to assess where the candidates stands on important issues heading into the election. The questions vary for each office, but are the same for every candidate running for the same office.