New Mexico Democrats Announce Plan To Improve Voting Access
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Yesterday, New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham (D) and Secretary of State Maggie Toulouse Oliver (D) announced plans for the state to improve voting access. “On this somber anniversary of the January 6 Capitol insurrection, an anti-democratic attempt to overturn a free and fair election, we are reminded that it is more important than ever to safeguard access to the ballot box,” said Lujan Grisham. “While voting rights are under attack across the country, New Mexico is taking every action to protect and expand them.”
The proposal would expand the early voting period and online voter registration opportunities, create a permanent mail-in ballot request list, automatically restore voting rights for those convicted of a felony who are not currently incarcerated, improve Native voting access and more. The New Mexico Legislature is set to convene on Jan. 18, with the hopes that lawmakers will pass the proposal as a new bill during the 30-day session. Toulouse Oliver stated that the proposal already has the backing of Democratic leaders in the New Mexico state Legislature, where Democrats control both chambers.