Santa Fe, NM - State Representative Jim Townsend (R-Artesia) announced today that he has issued an Inspection of Public Records Act (IPRA) request to the Secretary of State's office asking for all communications between the Secretary of State's staff, the Motor Vehicle Division (MVD) and the Election Registration Information Center (ERIC) from April 1, 2024, through October 4, 2024.

The purpose of the IPRA request is to review all documents relating to a recent action by Secretary of State Maggie Toulouse Oliver to send postcards notifying New Mexico residents, including those who are non-U.S. citizens, they may be eligible to vote. Under both state and federal law, non-citizens are not permitted to register and vote in elections. Specifically, Representative Townsend is asking to see the names and addresses of those who the Secretary of State has notified of their eligibility to vote in the November election.

"I have been notified by ineligible voters in my district that the Secretary of State has sent them registration cards," said Townsend. "As trust in our institutions continues to worsen, it is unconscionable to think that our top election official may be advising non-citizens to vote."

Recent reports indicate the Secretary of State's office has sent over 100,000 "registration notifications" to people across New Mexico. Representative Townsend's concern about the integrity of our voting systems is based on New Mexico policy that allows driver's licenses to be issued to illegal immigrants. Individuals can register to vote online using the driver's license and a "work only" Social Security card, although neither of those documents provide proof of citizenship.

"Recent actions by the Secretary of State are leading to questions about the integrity of our election system. Her refusal to provide the requested information only legitimizes the concerns we are hearing, and it is my hope she takes this IRPA request seriously. We need more confidence in our elections systems, not less. What the Secretary of State has done will only cause greater distrust in her office and in the honesty of our election results."

The IPRA request was sent of October 4th, it can be viewed HERE.