New Mexico’s Elections Ranked Number One in Nation
The Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) Elections Performance Index (EPI) ranks the electoral performance of states and counties across various indicators such as voter registration rates, post-election audits, security protocols, ballot rejection rates, wait times, and more. In the just-released 2022 EPI, New Mexico achieved the remarkable position of #1 with an EPI index score of 88%. This significant improvement underscores the state's commitment to electoral administration excellence and voter accessibility. Previously ranked at #25 in 2020, New Mexico's ascent to the top spot highlights its dedication to enhancing electoral processes.
On April 9, Commissioner Hank Hughes (D-5) and Commissioner Justin Greene (D-1) introduced a proclamation declaring April 11th as "New Mexico Electoral Excellence Day." The proposed proclamation acknowledges the diligent efforts of the Santa Fe County Clerk’s Office and the New Mexico Secretary of State in achieving this recognition on a national level.
PRESS RELEASE FROM THE SECRETARY OF STATE'S OFFICE
New Mexico’s Elections Ranked Number One in Nation
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
25 March 2024
Contact:Alex Curtas, Director of CommunicationsNew Mexico Secretary of State’s Office505-469-2783alex.curtas@sos.nm.gov
New Mexico’s Elections Ranked Number One in NationPrestigious Non-Partisan Ranking Measures Election Performance in Each State
SANTA FE – New Mexico’s elections have been ranked best in the nation by the prestigious Elections Performance Index (EPI), a project of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s (MIT) Election Data and Science Lab described as “a non-partisan, objective measure of U.S. election administration.”
The rankings, released late last week and based on the 2022 midterm elections, use a variety of performance indicators measuring aspects of election administration such as voter registration rates, post-election audits, security protocols, ballot rejection rates, wait times, and more. New Mexico moved up eight spots in the rankings since the 2018 Elections Performance Index when we were ranked ninth.
“The professional election administrators who keep the polls open and the votes counted and the engine of democracy running in New Mexico are exemplary and it’s an honor to see this work recognized on the national stage,” said New Mexico Secretary of State Maggie Toulouse Oliver. “Alongside my incredible staff and the tireless work of our thirty-three county clerks and their staffs, I’m proud to have helped modernize New Mexico’s elections by finding a critical balance between voter access and election security. Many members of the legislature also deserve thanks for their efforts to improve New Mexico’s elections over the years. I’m particularly proud of the Index’s recognition of New Mexico’s excellent online voter resources, our low ballot rejection rates, our use of post-election audits, and our membership in the Electronic Registration Information Center (ERIC) – all of which were cited as indicators of our peak performance.”
More information about the Elections Performance Index, including a deep dive into the methodology and data itself, can be found on their website.
Though New Mexico topped the rankings, it’s important to also recognize that election administration has improved all over the nation in recent years – a testament to the strength of our American democracy. As the MIT Election Lab stated in a press release: “The latest update to the EPI shows that election management across the United States improved in the 2022 midterm election, continuing an upward trend we see throughout the past few iterations of the index…In 2010, the nationwide average score on the index was just 63%. In 2022, that has leapt to 80%, an incredible achievement. Among the biggest factors driving state improvement have been improved data collection and practices, as well as more capable websites that feature better tools for voters.”
Check out New Mexico’s own online voter information portal at NMVOTE.ORG.
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