REPORT FROM SANTA FE IS MADE POSSIBLE, IN PART, BY GRANTS FROM THE NEW MEXICO MUNICIPAL LEAGUE, A BETTER NEW MEXICO THROUGH BETTER CITIES AND FROM >>LORENE: HELLO, I AM LORENE MILLS AND WELCOME TO REPORT FROM SANTA FE .

OUR GUEST TODAY IS MARIO JIMENEZ III AND WHEN YOU HEAR ABOUT HIS BACKGROUND YOU WILL KNOW HOW FORTUNATE WE ARE TO HAVE HIM SPEAKING TODAY ABOUT SOME THREATS TO OUR VERY ELECTION SYSTEM AND TO OUR DEMOCRACY.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US, MARIO.

>>MARIO: THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME, IT IS A PLEASURE TO BE ON THE SHOW AND I AM LOOKING FORWARD TO THE TOPIC.

>>LORENE: WELL, I WAS LOOKING AT YOUR BACKGROUND.

YOU HAVE 17 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE KIND OF NAVIGATING ELECTIONS, BUT THE MANY LAYERS OF WHICH YOU COVER, SO DO YOU WANT TO TELL US FOUR OR FIVE ELEMENTS OF YOUR BACKGROUND THAT MAKE YOU SO WELL QUALIFIED TO ADDRESS THIS IMPORTANT TOPIC.

>>MARIO: YEAH, ABSOLUTELY.

ONE THING THAT UNIQUELY QUALIFIES ME FOR ELECTION TOPICS IN GENERAL IS I ACTUALLY STARTED FROM THE BOTTOM AND WORKED MY WAY ALL THE WAY UP.

I STARTED ON BOARD AS A PART-TIME EMPLOYEE NAVIGATING MY WAY AROUND THE ELECTION PROCESS AND EVENTUALLY BEGAN ADMINISTERING ELECTIONS MYSELF AS A CHIEF-DEPUTY COUNTY CLERK DOWN IN DONA ANA AND EVENTUALLY ROSE THROUGH THE RANKS OF THE COUNTY CLERK'S AFFILIATE ITSELF, I WAS FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO BE ELECTED BY MY PEERS UNANIMOUSLY TWICE TO REPRESENT THEM AS THEIR CHAIR OF THE CLERK'S AFFILIATE AND LOBBIED ON BEHALF OF THE COUNTY CLERK'S AFFILIATE AS WELL.

AFTER LEAVING AND NOW VERY BLESSED TO BE IN THE NONPROFIT SECTOR.

SO I'VE REALLY GONE FULL CIRCLE FROM WORKING IN THE GOVERNMENT SECTOR AND CONDUCTING ELECTIONS, ASSISTING WITH THE CANDIDATES AND THEIR CAMPAIGNS AND NOW IN THE NONPARTISAN SECTOR, REALLY TRULY BEING ABLE TO FOCUS ON DEMOCRACY ISSUES AND ISSUES THAT ARE GOING TO BE AFFECTING THE GENERAL PUBLIC RATHER THAN ANY PARTY OR A PERSON.

SO, IT HAS BEEN A PRETTY WILD RIDE AND DEFINITELY ENJOYED IT.

>>LORENE: AND I MIGHT JUST MENTION THAT THE NONPROFIT THAT YOU ARE WORKING WITH NOW IS ONE OF MY FAVORITES IN NEW MEXICO.

IT IS COMMON CAUSE AND THEIR GOAL IS TO BRING PEOPLE TOGETHER TO BUILD A BETTER DEMOCRACY IN NEW MEXICO.

THEY WANT TO HELP MAKE GOVERNMENT OPEN, TRANSPARENT AND ACCOUNTABLE AND ACCOUNTABLE TO THE PEOPLE NOT TO ANY GOVERNMENT STRUCTURE.

AND YOU WORK ON VERY IMPORTANT THINGS LIKE ETHICS, HOW LONG DID IT TAKE US TO GET AN ETHICS COMMISSION?

AND WE COULDN'T HAVE DONE IT WITHOUT COMMON CAUSE.

A LOT OF WORK WITH VOTING AND ELECTIONS AND GERRYMANDERING AND ALL OF THAT.

SO I AM GLAD YOU CAN TAKE ALL THAT EXPERIENCE YOU HAD WITHIN THE SYSTEM AND THEN WORK TO TRANSLATE THAT TO THE PEOPLE AT LARGE, WHAT WORKS AND WHAT DOESN'T WORK.

>>MARIO: YES, MA'AM.

YEAH, YOU HIT THE NAIL ON THE HEAD.

COMMON CAUSE IS A GREAT ORGANIZATION THAT STRIVES TO DO THE WORK FOR THE PEOPLE AND BRING GOOD GOVERNMENT TO THE PEOPLE.

YES, MA'AM.

>>LORENE: YES.

SO I WANT TO DRAW A LITTLE ATTENTION TO WHAT YOU DID WHEN YOU WERE PRESIDENT, TWICE, OF THE COUNTY CLERKS AFFILIATES.

YOU WERE INSTRUMENTAL OR ELEMENTAL IN BRINGING FORTH VOTING CONVENIENCE CENTERS, WHICH HAS MADE IT SO MUCH EASIER FOR SO MANY PEOPLE, NOT THAT WE DON'T LOVE GOING TO OUR PRECINCT AND SEEING EVERYONE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD, BUT SOMETIMES WE MIGHT MISS A CHANCE TO VOTE BECAUSE IT'S JUST NOT AS CONVENIENT AS GOING TO WHERE YOU ARE CLOSE BY AND DOING IT.

SO TELL US HOW YOU THOUGHT OF THAT AND HOW HARD IT WAS TO MAKE THAT HAPPEN.

>>MARIO: YEAH ABSOLUTELY.

WELL, AS CLERKS YOU KNOW OUR MAIN CHARGE IS TO INSURE THAT WE CARRY OUT AN UNBIASED ELECTION FOR THE PEOPLE AND AN EFFICIENT ELECTION THAT IS.

AND BY ANALYZING THE ELECTION ITSELF, AND TAKING A LOOK AT THE NUMBER OF PROVISIONAL BALLOTS THAT WE HAD COMING IN, NOT JUST IN DONA ANA COUNTY, BUT ALL COUNTIES THROUGHOUT THE STATE, AS CLERKS, WE COLLECTIVELY STARTED TO DISCUSS HOW CAN WE REDUCE THIS NUMBER OF PROVISIONAL BALLOTS TO MAKE OUR JOBS AND THE JOB OF THE VOTER THAT MUCH EASIER AND THE SIMPLE SOLUTION WAS VOTING CONVENIENCE CENTERS.

RATHER THAN HAVING TO, AS YOU MENTIONED, STOP AND VOTE AT THE LOCATION NEAR YOUR HOME, IF YOU WORKED 30 MINUTES OR AN HOUR ACROSS TOWN, YOU CAN STOP AND VOTE THERE RATHER THAN, YOU KNOW, PUTTING YOUR LIFE AT RISK OR GETTING A TICKET KIND OF TO SPEED YOUR WAY TO YOUR ASSIGNED POLLING LOCATION.

SO THERE IS AN ADDED BENEFIT FOR THE VOTER, BUT ON THE ADMINISTRATIVE SIDE IT MADE COUNTY CLERKS JOBS SO MUCH EASIER AS PROVISIONAL BALLOTS ARE VERY TIME CONSUMING AND HAVING TO GO THROUGH EACH AND EVERY SINGLE ONE TO VERIFY WHETHER THAT VOTE COUNTED OR NOT.

SO IT WAS DEFINITELY A LANDMARK PIECE OF LEGISLATION THAT HAS UNDOUBTEDLY HELPED THE CLERKS ADMINISTER AND PROVIDE ELECTION RESULTS IN A MORE TIMELY MANNER.

BUT ULTIMATELY, IT HAS BEEN A HUGE WIN FOR THE VOTERS IN THE FACT THAT YOU ARE ABLE TO GO CAST A BALLOT AT ANY POLL LOCATION WITHIN YOUR COUNTY AT ANY TIME DURING THE DAY RATHER THAN TO RACE ACROSS YOUR CITY OR ACROSS YOUR COUNTY TO GET TO A POLLING LOCATION.

AND ULTIMATELY HAVE TO WAIT FOR YOUR PROVISIONAL BALLOT TO BE ACCEPTED AND THEN LATER TALLIED, YOU CAN SHOW UP, YOU CAN VOTE, AND REST ASSURED THAT YOUR BALLOT WAS COUNTED BY THE MACHINE RIGHT THEN AND THERE.

SO IT'S DEFINITELY BEEN AN AMAZING PIECE OF LEGISLATION AND I THINK THAT IS JUST ONE EXAMPLE OF HOW NEW MEXICO LEADS THE WAY, LEADS THE COUNTRY, THAT IS, IN THE WAY OF ELECTIONS.

>>LORENE: ONE OTHER THING AND THEN WE WILL GET TO THE NUTS AND BOLTS OF OUR TOPIC.

YOU WERE A MEMBER OF THE VOTING SYSTEMS CERTIFICATION COMMITTEE AND YOU HELPED MAKE THE VOTING MACHINES MORE USER FRIENDLY BY BEING ADA, AMERICAN WITH DISABILITIES ACT, COMPLIANT AND MORE EFFICIENT SO THAT AGAIN MOVED US FORWARD, THANK YOU.

>>MARIO: YES, MA'AM.

>>LORENE: AND ALSO YOU ARE A CERTIFIED VOTING MACHINE TECHNICIAN SO YOU CAN PROGRAM, REPAIR, AND TRAIN PEOPLE, YOU KNOW THESE MACHINES FROM THE INSIDE OUT.

SO, NOW, LET US LOOK AT WHAT HAS HAPPENED TO OUR ELECTIONS OFFICIALS.

YOU KNOW THEY SAY DEMOCRACY IS UNDER THREAT, WELL, WHERE THE RUBBER HITS THE ROAD IS THAT OUR ELECTIONS OFFICIALS AND VOLUNTEER POLL WORKERS ARE ALSO BEING INTIMIDATED AND SO I WAS WONDERING, MAYBE WE'LL START WITH DONA ANA COUNTY, BECAUSE YOU HAD A LOT OF THINGS HAPPEN DOWN THERE THAT ARE VERY DISTRESSING AND TO PUT THE WORKERS AND CLERKS AND THE PEOPLE IN THE COUNTY CLERK'S OFFICE IN DANGER AND THEN WE WILL MOVE UP TO THE HEAD OF THE SYSTEM, THE SECRETARY OF STATE.

BUT LET'S START IN DONA ANA, WHAT HAS HAPPENED DOWN THERE IN THE LAST ELECTION?

>>MARIO: YEAH, ABSOLUTELY, SO, IN DONA ANA AND YOU KNOW THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WE ARE SEEING HAPPEN NATIONWIDE, WE ARE SEEING OUR ELECTION ADMINISTRATORS, THEMSELVES, BEING THREATENED AND OUR POLL OFFICIALS WHO ARE VOLUNTEERS, THEY DO RECEIVE A SMALL MONETARY STIPEND FOR ASSISTING IN ELECTIONS, BUT IT IS NOT VERY MUCH.

IN THE MOST PART THESE POLL WORKERS ARE COMING ON BOARD AS VOLUNTEERS AFTER BEING HIRED BY OUR COUNTY CLERK'S OFFICE.

AND WITH A LOT OF THE NEGATIVITY AND YOU KNOW WE WON'T EVEN CALL IT FAKE NEWS, WE WILL JUST CALL IT WHAT IT IS, A LOT OF LIES THAT HAVE GONE ON ABOUT THE ELECTION AND THE ELECTION'S INTEGRITY HAS LED TO OUR POLL WORKERS, OUR ELECTION WORKERS, THE STAFF IN THE COUNTY CLERK'S OFFICE BEING THREATENED OR RECEIVING UNWANTED PHONE CALLS, UNSOLICITED PHONE CALLS THREATENING THEM AND THE WORK THAT THEY ARE DOING.

TO CONDUCT AN ELECTION, IT REALLY IS A FEAT IN ITS OWN, IN THE PREPARATION LEADING UP TO THE DAY OF THE ELECTION.

BY SCARING OFF OUR POLL WORKERS OR REALLY PUSHING THEM TO NOT WANT TO PARTICIPATE FOR FEAR OF THEIR LIFE, IS REALLY DOING A DISSERVICE TO OUR NEIGHBORS AND IN FACT IT IS GOING TO BE THAT MUCH HARDER TO FIND PEOPLE TO STAFF THESE POLLS.

AND QUITE FRANKLY, WITHOUT THEM, THERE IS NO WAY THAT WE CAN REALLY CONDUCT AN ELECTION.

SO I THINK IT IS VERY IMPORTANT THAT WHEN WE ARE HAVING THESE CONVERSATIONS ABOUT THE ELECTIONS AND THE ELECTION'S INTEGRITY, IT IS IMPORTANT THAT WE STICK TO THE FACTS, BECAUSE THERE REALLY ARE PEOPLE'S LIVES THAT ARE AT STAKE HERE.

WHEN WE ARE ROUNDING PEOPLE UP TO THE POINT THAT SOME ARE WANTING TO BEAR ARMS, BECAUSE THEY FEEL THAT THEY WERE SLIGHTED DURING AN ELECTION, WHEN IN FACT IT COULD NOT BE FURTHER FROM THE TRUTH.

>>LORENE: WELL, I KNOW THAT IN THE DONA ANA COUNTY CLERK'S OFFICE THERE WERE A LOT OF VERY VICIOUS, RACIST EMAILS AND THREATS AND BEING CALLED THIEVES AND LIARS.

THEN ONE THING THAT REALLY CREEPED ME OUT WAS THAT LATE AT NIGHT A WORKER WAS GOING IN AND SOMEONE HAD FOLLOWED HER AND SLID INTO THIS LIKE LOCKED AREA THAT IS FORBIDDEN FOR THE PUBLIC TO BE IN AND COME IN THE DEAD OF NIGHT AND FOLLOWED HER THERE.

YOU KNOW THESE PEOPLE, THEY KNOW NO BOUNDARIES AND I WAS VERY WORRIED WHEN I HEARD ABOUT THAT, IT TURNED OUT OKAY, BUT STILL THE CREEPY FACTOR WAS VERY, VERY HARD, VERY LARGE IN THAT.

>>MARIO: IT IS DEFINITELY A SCARY SITUATION WHEN WE HAVE EMPLOYEES IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT ON THEIR OWN AND WITHOUT SECURITY.

IT CERTAINLY CAN BE A VERY HARMLESS SITUATION, BUT IT IS SOMETHING THAT CAN VERY QUICKLY ESCALATE TO SOMETHING.

>>LORENE: NOW, CAN YOU TELL US, I KNOW DAN MCKAY IN THE (ALBUQUERQUE) JOURNAL WROTE A LONG ARTICLE ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED TO OUR VERY OWN SECRETARY OF STATE MAGGIE TOULOUSE OLIVER.

AND SHE IS AN IMPECCABLE PUBLIC SERVANT, SHE EVEN RECENTLY SERVED AS THE PRESIDENT OF THE NATIONAL SECRETARIES OF STATE, WOULD YOU TELL WHAT HAPPENED TO HER.

>>MARIO: YEAH, YOU KNOW, WELL AS AN ELECTED OFFICIAL, OUR INFORMATION IS OUT THERE FOR THE PUBLIC TO FIND US AND, YOU KNOW, AGAIN IT LEADS TO A LOT OF THESE NEGATIVE INNUENDOES AND FALSE ACCUSATIONS AND FLAT OUT LIES ABOUT AN ELECTION THAT CAN REALLY JEOPARDIZE OUR ELECTED OFFICIALS' LIVES.

AND THE THINGS THAT OUR SECRETARY OF STATE HAD TO ENDURE ARE SHAMEFUL AND IN NO WAY SHOULD ANY ELECTED OFFICIAL FEEL UNSAFE IN THE CAPACITY THAT THEY ARE SERVING.

IT REALLY IS, I GUESS WE CAN CALL IT WHAT IT IS, IT IS REALLY AN UNFORTUNATE SITUATION THAT WE HAVE ELECTED OFFICIALS THAT ARE DOING THEIR BEST TO SERVE THEIR PUBLIC AND THE COMMUNITY AND ARE LEFT TO FEEL UNSAFE.

>>LORENE: WELL I UNDERSTOOD THAT SHE WAS DOXED, WHICH MEANS ALL OF HER PERSONAL INFORMATION WAS PUT OUT ON THE WEB.

BUT THERE WAS A SITE CALLED ENEMIES OF THE PEOPLE THAT PUT UP HER PICTURE, WITH A TARGET OVER IT AND THEN ALL OF WHERE TO FIND HER.

SHE WAS GIVEN SPECIAL PROTECTION FOR SOME TIME AND HAD TO ACTUALLY NOT LIVE IN HER HOUSE FOR A WHILE BECAUSE OF THE SERIOUSNESS OF THESE THREATS.

>>MARIO: YEAH, IT'S EXTREMELY, IT IS DISTURBING AND THIS IS SOMETHING THAT CAN HAPPEN TO ANY OF OUR ELECTED OFFICIALS, RIGHT?

I MEAN IT IS VERY UNFORTUNATE THAT TOULOUSE OLIVER HAD TO EXPERIENCE THAT.

AS AN ELECTED OFFICIAL, AS CANDIDATES, RIGHT NOW WE HAVE AN ONGOING ELECTION IN MANY OF OUR MUNICIPALITIES THROUGHOUT THE STATE AND OUR CANDIDATES PROVIDE THEIR INFORMATION.

THEY ARE AT THE END OF THE DAY PUBLIC OFFICIALS, THEY ARE PUBLIC SERVANTS AND THEIR INFORMATION IS QUITE EASY TO FIND AND IF SOMEBODY IS UNHAPPY WITH AN OUTCOME WITH AN ELECTION, I MEAN CERTAINLY, WE HAVE OUR RIGHT TO AIR OUR GRIEVANCES, BUT WE IN NO WAY, SHAPE, OR FORM SHOULD BE TOLERATING OR EVEN AS PUBLIC OFFICIALS EVEN BE CONSIDERING THE FACT THAT WE SHOULD BE ENCOURAGING OTHERS TO THREATEN ANYONE ON THE BASIS OF AN ELECTION.

THE GREAT THING ABOUT OUR ELECTION PROCESS IN NEW MEXICO AND ANY OTHER STATE IS WE DO HAVE THE OPTION AND THE RIGHT TO CHALLENGE AN ELECTION.

WE DO HAVE AUTOMATIC RECOUNTS IN NEW MEXICO, WHICH IS SOMETHING THAT AGAIN, WE ARE PAVING THE WAY FOR OTHER STATES IN THE EVENT THAT THERE IS A CLOSE RACE, WE WOULD AUTOMATICALLY GO TO A RECOUNT AND DETERMINE WHETHER THE VOTES ARE IN FACT LEGITIMATE OR NOT.

THAT IS A GREAT THING THAT WE HAVE ABOUT OUR PAPER BALLOTING SYSTEM, WE DO HAVE THAT ABILITY TO GO BACK AND RECREATE THE VOTES.

AND WE HAVE THOSE CHECKS AND BALANCES THAT SHOULD BE UTILIZED, AND WE SHOULD NOT BE ENCOURAGING PEOPLE OR EVEN TOLERATING AN INDIVIDUAL MAKING ANY KIND OF THREATS TOWARDS OUR ELECTED OFFICIALS.

>>LORENE: WE ARE SPEAKING TODAY WITH MARIO JIMENEZ, HIS OBSERVATIONS AFTER 17 YEARS IN THE ELECTION SYSTEM ON MANY, MANY LEVELS.

IT HAPPENS, A FRIEND OF MINE WHO IS A PRECINCT JUDGE HAD THE PROBLEM COME UP IN HER PRECINCT WHERE A POLL CHALLENGER OR POLL WATCHER, BECAUSE YOU CAN HAVE PARTISAN PEOPLE COME IN AND OBSERVE.

BUT THIS PARTICULAR PERSON WAS SO AGGRESSIVE THAT THERE WAS AN AUTISTIC WOMAN COMING TO VOTE FOR HER VERY FIRST TIME AND THIS POLL CHALLENGER WAS SO AGGRESSIVE AND HARASSED HER SO MUCH THAT IT JUST REDUCED HER TO TEARS.

AND THEY FINALLY HAD TO CALL THE POLICE TO COME AND TAKE THIS VICIOUS AND AGGRESSIVE POLL WATCHER AWAY BECAUSE SHE WAS NOT ALLOWING THIS WOMAN TO VOTE.

SO, I KNOW THAT THERE IS A LOT OF STORIES LIKE THAT AND THERE IS ALSO OTHER FORMS OF VOTER INTIMIDATION.

I KNOW THAT IN BERNALILLO COUNTY ON THE FIRST DAY OF EARLY VOTING A CONVOY OF 30 TRUCKS, A LOT OF WHOM HAD TRUMP FLAGS, WOULD DRIVE RIGHT BY WHERE THE LINE OF VOTERS WERE, HONKING AND YELLING AND THREATENING AND IT WAS JUST NOT A GOOD WAY TO START OUR EARLY VOTING SEASON.

AND SO, OF COURSE YOU HAVE TO HAVE MORE POLICE PRESENCE AND MORE PROTECTION.

THIS ALSO EXTENDS NOT ONLY TO ELECTIONS OFFICIALS BUT IF YOU REMEMBER BILL MCCAMLEY, CABINET SECRETARY FOR WORKFORCE SOLUTIONS, A DISGRUNTLED UNEMPLOYMENT COMPENSATION PERSON WAS MAD AT HIM, THREATENED HIS LIFE AND ALSO CALLED HIS PARENTS UP AND THREATENED THEIR LIVES.

AND SO SOMEHOW THIS EVIL, I DON'T KNOW, PRIVILEGED OR ANYONE TO FEEL THAT THEY HAVE THE RIGHT TO THREATEN PEOPLE LIKE, THAT HAS BEEN UNLEASHED IN OUR STATE AND LET'S JUST TAKE A MINUTE AND LOOK AT HOW IT IS WORKING NATIONALLY, ARE THERE SOME FAVORITE STORIES OF YOURS ON THE NATIONAL LEVEL, WE ALL KNOW ABOUT THE GEORGIA SECRETARY OF STATE.

>>MARIO: YEAH, WELL YOU KNOW, FIRST STARTING OFF WITH OUR LOCAL OFFICIALS, OUR POLL WORKERS, AGAIN THIS GOES BACK TO MAKING SURE THAT THIS GROUP OF INDIVIDUALS IS IN FACT PROTECTED, RIGHT?

DESPITE POLL WORKERS RECEIVING A STIPEND TO CONDUCT THE ELECTION, AGAIN, IT IS AN EXTREMELY UNAPPRECIATED POSITION.

THEY ARE DEALING WITH VOTERS ALL DAY LONG, TARDY INDIVIDUALS, CANDIDATES, YOU ARE NOT GOING TO KEEP EVERYBODY HAPPY, THEIR JOB IS TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY ARE FOLLOWING THE LAW.

PEOPLE WHO ARE LEGALLY REGISTERED TO VOTE DO HAVE THAT RIGHT TO SHOW UP AT THAT POLLING LOCATION AND VOTE.

GRANTED WE DO HAVE LAWS IN PLACE THAT PROTECT OUR POLL WORKERS, WE HAVE CAMPAIGNING THAT HAS TO TAKE PLACE 100 FEET OUTSIDE THE POLLING LOCATION.

BUT AS YOU MENTIONED, THERE ARE, WHAT WERE CALLED ALL OVER SOCIAL MEDIA AND THE NEWS, TRUMP TRAINS, THAT WERE HAPPENING THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY.

MANY OF THESE WERE HAPPENING 100 FEET BEYOND THE POLLING LOCATION.

WE DID RECEIVE SEVERAL PHONE CALLS TO OUR ELECTION PROTECTION HOTLINE OF VOTERS FEELING UNEASY OR FEELING UNSAFE AT SOME OF THESE POLLING LOCATIONS, BUT THEN THEY HAD TO BE DIRECTED TO A DIFFERENT LOCATION TO GO VOTE.

BUT BY NO MEANS SHOULD WE HAVE TO FEEL LIKE I CANNOT CAST MY BALLOT SAFELY IN THE UNITED STATES WITHOUT FEELING THREATENED TO CAST MY BALLOT AND THAT IS UNFORTUNATELY SOMETHING THAT WE DEALT WITH, AND THE SAME THING GOES FOR OUR POLL WORKERS.

THEY SHOULD NOT FEEL THAT THEY CANNOT SHOW UP AND DO THEIR DUTY AS POLL WORKERS AND FEEL UNSAFE OR FEEL THREATENED.

IN FACT, WE HAVE SEVERAL DIFFERENT PIECES OF THE LAW THAT PROTECT SPECIFIC GROUPS OF INDIVIDUALS.

FOR EXAMPLE, REFEREES AT OUR KIDS' GAMES, RIGHT, PROTECTING OUR POLICE OFFICERS.

MAYBE IT IS TIME WE START LOOKING AT ANOTHER PIECE OF LEGISLATION THAT WOULD PROTECT OUR POLL WORKERS.

GRANTED, WE DO AS I HAVE MENTIONED, HAVE SECTIONS OF LAW IN PLACE TO PROTECT THEM, BUT MAYBE IT IS TIME TO INCREASE THAT PROTECTION FOR OUR POLL WORKERS TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY DO FEEL SAFE AND THAT INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE GOING TO SHOW UP AND THREATEN THEM AND MAKE THEIR LIVES HARDER THAN WHAT IT IS, DO FEEL THAT THERE ARE GOING TO BE SOME KIND OF PENALTY TO THEIR ACTIONS IF THEY ARE GOING TO BE THERE SHOWING UP TO THREATEN OR MAKE OUR POLL WORKERS OR OUR VOTERS FEEL UNSAFE.

AND AS FAR AS SECRETARY MCCAMLEY, AGAIN, THAT WAS ANOTHER EXTREMELY UNFORTUNATE INCIDENT THAT HAPPENED AND FRANKLY, SOMETHING THAT NEVER SHOULD HAVE HAPPENED.

MR. MCCAMLEY AND I ALSO GO FAR BACK AND HE USED TO BE A COUNTY COMMISSIONER IN DONA ANA COUNTY DURING MY TIME IN THE COUNTY CLERK'S OFFICE.

SO I AM VERY FAMILIAR WITH THE GENTLEMAN AND I DO KNOW THAT HIS HEART IS IN THE RIGHT PLACE AND HE WANTED TO HELP PEOPLE AND AGAIN AS A PUBLIC SERVANT OR EVEN AS A BUSINESS OWNER, YOU ARE NOT GOING TO KEEP ALL OF YOUR EMPLOYEES OR ALL OF YOUR CUSTOMERS HAPPY.

BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, WE NEED TO SHOW SOME DECORUM AND RESPECT FOR ONE ANOTHER AND UNDERSTANDING AND THAT IS SOMETHING THAT THE CURRENT POLITICAL CLIMATE IS FAILING TO DO.

AND I THINK WE NEED TO DO OUR BEST AS WE ARE TALKING TO THE PUBLIC AS WE ARE HERE TODAY, THAT WE DO STRETCH THE HAND ACROSS THE AISLE, ACROSS THE FENCE, AND PATCH UP ANY KIND OF BURDEN BETWEEN OUR POLITICAL, WHAT WE MAY CONSIDER A POLITICAL OUR NEIGHBORS.

BECAUSE QUITE FRANKLY, A LOT OF US THOUGHT THAT'S WHAT WAS GOING ON, AGAIN, IS JUST COMPLETELY UNACCEPTABLE.

>>LORENE: SO NATIONALLY, JUST THIS VERY WEEK, REPRESENTATIVE ANTHONY GONZALES STEPPED DOWN FROM BEING A REPRESENTATIVE BECAUSE HE HAD SO MANY THREATS THAT HE FEARED FOR THE SAFETY OF HIS CHILDREN AND HIS FAMILY AND IT JUST WASN'T WORTH DYING FOR BECAUSE SOME CRAZY PERSON HAS THREATENED TO KILL YOU AND COULD SUCCEED, SO HE JUST BOWED OUT.

I DO APPRECIATE YOUR SUGGESTION THAT WE HAVE LEGISLATION, I ALWAYS LAUGH THAT REFEREES ARE PROTECTED BECAUSE PEOPLE ARE SO PASSIONATE ABOUT THEIR SPORTS, BUT YOU KNOW, IT MAY BE THAT LEGISLATION WILL BE ONE WAY TO FIX THIS.

THERE ARE SOME OTHERS WAYS I WOULD LIKE YOU TO APPROACH BECAUSE IT IS NOT ONLY THIS TANGIBLE THREAT TO THE LIVES AND THE HEALTH OF OUR ELECTION WORKERS AND OUR SECRETARIES OF STATE AND OUR POLL WORKERS, BUT THE WHOLE HEALTH AND SAFETY OF OUR DEMOCRACY IN THAT THE BIG LIE THAT TRUMP FOLLOWERS BELIEVE THAT TRUMP REALLY WON, I THINK AND THAT 78 PERCENT OF REPUBLICANS BELIEVE THAT BIDEN IS NOT OUR...

I DON'T KNOW WHO TAKES THESE POLLS BUT IT IS A WORRISOME NUMBER AND SO I THINK WE HAVE TO ATTACK IT ON SO MANY LEVELS.

YES, LEGISLATIVELY, YES IN TERMS OF HONOR AND PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY AND REALIZING THAT WITHOUT THESE ELECTIONS, WHICH ARE REALLY FAIR, YOU ARE SUCH A FAN OF NEW MEXICO'S TRACK RECORD.

WE ARE SO AHEAD OF THE CURVE WITH THE PAPER BALLOTS AND WITH YOU KNOW THESE BUILT-IN PROTECTIONS.

I ALSO THINK THAT WE HAVE TO HAVE CIVICS IN THE SCHOOLS AGAIN SO THAT PEOPLE CAN STUDY HOW ELECTIONS WORK, HOW SAFE IT IS, HOW YOUR VOTE IS GUARANTEED.

THERE IS A GROUP CALLED THE HERITAGE FOUNDATION, THEY DO AN ELECTION FRAUD SURVEY.

WELL SINCE 2019, THERE HAVE ONLY BEEN EIGHT, EIGHT CASES OF ELECTION FRAUD IN NEW MEXICO.

CALIFORNIA AND OTHER STATES HAVE MANY MORE, BUT WE ARE DOING REALLY WELL AND I WOULD LIKE TO SEE EDUCATION AND TO INSPIRE KIDS WITH THE PRIVILEGE OF VOTING, YOU KNOW, HOW IMPORTANT IT IS THAT YOUR VOICE IS HEARD.

BUT TELL US HOW YOU FEEL WE CAN ADDRESS THIS NATIONALLY AND LOCALLY.

>>MARIO: YEAH, I COULD NOT AGREE WITH YOU MORE.

I THINK CIVICS DEFINITELY NEEDS TO COME BACK INTO OUR PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

I, FOR ONE, AM A PRODUCT OF THE PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM, BUT HONESTLY, NEVER LEARNED ANYTHING ABOUT CIVICS.

I, MYSELF, WAS NOT ENGAGED IN VOTING OR IN POLITICS IN GENERAL UNTIL I WAS 20 YEARS OLD BY THE TIME I ENGAGED IN POLITICS.

AND QUITE FRANKLY, I FOR A FACT KNOW I WOULD HAVE BEEN A LOT MORE ENGAGED IN THE POLITICAL SYSTEM AND IN GOVERNMENT IN GENERAL IF I HAD A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF JUST WRITING A CHECK.

BECAUSE I DO REMEMBER LEARNING THAT IN SCHOOL BUT DIDN'T LEARN ABOUT HOW GOVERNMENT OPERATES, I DID NOT LEARN ABOUT HOW OUR ELECTORAL SYSTEM OPERATES OR HOW A BILL IS PASSED.

OF COURSE, YOU KNOW WE GOT SCHOOLHOUSE ROCK.

BUT YEAH, IT DEFINITELY NEEDS TO BE BROUGHT BACK INTO OUR PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM, TEACH THE YOUTH OF THE IMPORTANCE OF VOTING AND THAT WAY THAT HAVE A TRUST IN THE GOVERNMENT.

BUT AGAIN, THIS ALL GOES BACK TO MAKING SURE THAT WE ARE DOING OUR PART IN PROVIDING ACCURATE INFORMATION OUT THERE.

AND I THINK ANOTHER REALLY GOOD THING THAT IS GOING TO GET US AHEAD OF THE CURVE AND IN COMBATING A LOT OF THIS NEGATIVITY WHEN IT COMES TO VOTING AND IT COMES TO ELECTION, IS BY CHANGING THE WAY WE VOTE.

RIGHT NOW, WE HAVE RANK CHOICE VOTING, WHICH IS BEING UTILIZED IN OTHER STATES AND SOMETHING THAT COMMON CAUSE IS A PROPONENT OF AND HAS BEEN ADVOCATING IN LAS CRUCES ELECTION AND SANTA FE ELECTION, WHICH ARE TAKING PLACE HERE IN UPCOMING NOVEMBER.

BUT WE REALLY WOULD LOVE TO SEE RANK CHOICE GO NATIONWIDE, IN FACT STATEWIDE FOR SURE HERE IN NEW MEXICO.

RANK CHOICE VOTING ENCOURAGES CANDIDATES TO FOCUS ON THEMSELVES AND THEN FOCUS ON THE ISSUE RATHER THAN FOCUSING ON THE NEGATIVITY OF THEIR OPPONENT.

AS A CANDIDATE, IF I AM GOING TO GO AND ASK THE VOTER FOR THEIR SECOND VOTE, IF I AM BASHING YOUR FAVORITE CANDIDATE, THERE IS A GOOD CHANCE I AM NOT GOING TO GET THAT SECOND VOTE.

SO IT GIVES ME AN INCENTIVE TO POSITIVELY TALK ABOUT MYSELF AND TALK ABOUT MY ISSUES RATHER THAN SLAMMING MY OPPONENT WHO YOU MAY BE CONSIDERING TO VOTE FOR.

BY CHANGING THIS WAY OF VOTING, IT DOES TWO THINGS, AS I MENTIONED, IT IS GOING TO REDUCE THE AMOUNT OF COMBATIVE CAMPAIGNING OR MUDSLINGING AS IT IS MORE OFTEN REFERRED TO AND MORE IMPORTANT, IT IS GOING TO ASSURE THAT THE PERSON WHO GETS ELECTED IS IN FACT ELECTED BY A TRUE MAJORITY.

RANK CHOICE VOTING PROMOTES 50 PERCENT PLUS ONE, SO THAT MEANS THE INDIVIDUAL WHO IS VOTED IN HAS TO RECEIVE 50 PERCENT OF THE TOTAL VOTE OF THOSE WHO CASTED A BALLOT.

RIGHT NOW IN AN ELECTION, SAY A PRIMARY ELECTION, IF THERE ARE THREE CANDIDATES RUNNING, SOMEBODY CAN EASILY WIN WITH JUST 40 PERCENT OF THE VOTE.

THEY DO HAVE A MAJORITY AMONGST THE THREE, BUT THEY DO NOT HAVE THE MAJORITY OF THOSE WHO CASTED A BALLOT, SO ULTIMATELY, YOU COULD HAVE SOMEBODY TAKING OFFICE THAT HAD 60 PERCENT OF THE POPULATION OF THOSE WHO CASTED A BALLOT VOTING AGAINST HIM, NOT NECESSARILY VOTING FOR THEM.

SO I THINK BY IMPLEMENTING RANK CHOICE VOTING IN NEW MEXICO AS WELL AS REALLY BRINGING CIVICS BACK TO THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND EVEN OUR PRIVATE AND OUR CHARTER SCHOOLS, CAN REALLY SET THE TONE IN HOW ELECTIONS ARE GOING TO BE RUN IN THE FUTURE AND HOW WE TREAT ONE ANOTHER AND HOW WE DISCUSS ELECTIONS IN OUR GROUPS RATHER THAN HAVING THESE FAMILY DISCUSSIONS WHERE, "WE ARE NOT GOING TO TALK POLITICS, WE SHOULDN'T TALK POLITICS AT THE DINNER TABLE."

YOU KNOW IT IS SOMETHING THAT WE COULD BE ENCOURAGING, THE DISCUSSION OF POLITICS AT THE DINNER TABLE, SO WE ARE BETTER INFORMED WHEN WE SHOW UP TO THE POLLS AND WE CAST A BALLOT.

ELECTIONS SHOULD NOT BE A TABOO WHEN WE ARE TALKING ABOUT IT AMONGST OUR CIRCLES, IT SHOULD BE SOMETHING THAT IS ENCOURAGED.

>>LORENE: WELL, WELL SAID.

I AM JUST SO HAPPY THAT YOU HAVE TAKEN THE TIME.

OUR GUEST TODAY IS MARIO JIMENEZ III, AND I LOVE THE WAY YOU WEAVE ALL OF THE VAST EXPERIENCE THAT YOU HAVE HAD ON SO MANY LEVELS HERE AND COME UP WITH SOME REALLY IMPORTANT SOLUTIONS FOR US.

AND SO I WOULD LIKE TO THANK YOU, MARIO, FOR JOINING US TODAY ON REPORT FROM SANTA FE .

>>MARIO: THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

PLEASURE.

>>LORENE: YOU BET.

AND I AM LORENE MILLS AND I WOULD LIKE TO THANK YOU OUR AUDIENCE FOR BEING WITH US TODAY ON REPORT FROM SANTA FE .

REPORT FROM SANTA FE IS MADE POSSIBLE, IN PART, BY GRANTS FROM THE NEW MEXICO MUNICIPAL LEAGUE, A BETTER NEW MEXICO THROUGH BETTER CITIES AND FROM