New Mexico in Focus; 816; New Mexico Election Reform

SRT Captions File Generated by MXFplus MAJOR FUNDING FOR IN FOCUS IS CHARITABLE FOUNDATION, ENRICHING THE CULTURAL LIFE, HEALTH,

OF NEW MEXICO. IT WAS ONE OF THE MOST HOTLY CONTESTED PRESIDENTIAL RACES IN EVERYONE'S VOTE WAS COUNTED. DISQUALIFIED, THIS IN A SWING SOME BELIEVE THIS AND OTHER LATER, WE'LL TALK TO SHEA BE PASSED THIS SESSION. WELCOME TO IN FOCUS.

BUT ONE THING REMAINED THE SAME: LAWSUITS ARE SEEKING A RECOUNT IN THE MEANTIME, LEGISLATORS, PERCEIVE AS A LONG-TERM PATTERN WHILE THERE MAY BE DEBATE ABOUT GOVERNOR RICHARDSON FORMED A LAWMAKERS HAVE JOINED IN, IDENTIFICATION. WE'LL TRY TO SORT IT OUT TODAY MEXICO DEMOCRATIC FRIENDS, AND FOX-YOUNG OF ALBUQUERQUE; ELY

RICHARDSON'S ELECTION REFORM >> KATE: WELCOME, ALL FOUR OF DOES OUR SYSTEM NEED ELECTORAL ELI LEE? >> LEE: ABSOLUTELY, YES. >> JUSTINE FOX-YOUNG? >> REP. FOX-YOUNG: ABSOLUTELY >> KATE: MARY HERRERA? >> HERRERA: I BELIEVE WE NEED NEW MEXICO, AND IT'S TIME TO >> KATE: SONJA ELISON? >> ELISON: ABSOLUTELY. WAS OVER 2 1/2%, AND CAL TECH'S AND MIT'S STUDY, THAT WAS RELEASED YESTERDAY, SAID AN WARRANTS INVESTIGATION. >> KATE: LET'S TALK ABOUT THAT, THIS UNDERVOTE AND PHANTOM VOTE >>: AN UNDERVOTE, IT MEANS THAT

THERE WAS NO VOTE RECORDED. WE FOUND OVER 21,000 UNDERVOTES IN THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO. WE HAD OVER 30 PRECINCTS, AND THEY WERE PARTICULARLY ON ELECTION DAY, IN PRECINCTS WITH CERTAIN TYPES OF VOTING MACHINES, WHERE THOSE -- WHERE THE UNDERVOTE COUNT SKYROCKETED. >> KATE: CAN YOU MAKE ANY ANOTHER? >> ELISON: NO, THEY'RE JUST >> KATE: THE PHANTOM VOTES ARE >> ELISON: RIGHT, RIGHT. SAY WHETHER IT WOULD HAVE FAVORED ONE CANDIDATE OR THE >> KATE: LET'S COVER SOME OF MARY HERRERA, AS COUNTY CLERK BALLOTS, ALTHOUGH EVERY COUNTY

COUNTY. >> HERRERA: THAT'S CORRECT. >> KATE: 6,000 OF WHICH COULD >> HERRERA: WELL, WHAT I VOTE WHETHER THEY WERE REGISTERED TO VOTE OR NOT, AND BEING ELIGIBLE TO BE COUNTED. MAINLY, THAT WAS THE MAIN PROBLEM WITH THE PROVISIONALS. WE DID DISQUALIFY A LITTLE OVER 6,000 THIS ELECTION. THAT WAS REALLY SAD. GIVEN GUIDELINES TO MAKE SURE WE NAME AND THE ADDRESS MATCHED, ELECTION CAME BY, A LOT OF FOLKS OUT THERE HAVE ALREADY MOVED AND DIDN'T CHANGE THEIR ADDRESS. AND SO THOSE WERE NOT COUNTED. >> KATE: ANOTHER HOT ISSUE WAS ISSUE IN THIS SESSION.

>> REP. FOX-YOUNG: WELL, KATE, PUBLIC, AND IT'S NOT ONLY A PROVISIONAL BALLOTS AND A NUMBER VOTER ID IS THE ONLY WAY TO GET >> KATE: WHAT EVIDENCE IS THERE THERE FRAUDULENTLY VOTING? >> REP. FOX-YOUNG: WELL, ONE OF THE MAJOR PROBLEMS THAT WE HAD IN THIS LAST ELECTION -- BALLOTS -- BUT WE HAD A NUMBER OF FOLKS GO INTO VOTE ON CAST A BALLOT. SO WE'RE IN A POSITION NOW THAT'S WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO >> KATE: HOW BIG OF A PROBLEM

>> HERRERA: WE HAD A FEW OF THE PROBLEMS WE DID THERE WEREN'T A WHOLE LOT OF >> KATE: THESE WERE COMPLAINTS INVESTIGATE. >> HERRERA: WE HAVEN'T HEARD >> KATE: AND LAST I HEARD, THEY UNPROSECUTABLE. >> REP. FOX-YOUNG: KATE, I'D MEXICO, BEGINNING MANY YEARS AGO, BUT CERTAINLY EVERYBODY FOR VOTER FRAUD. HAD MORE THAN A FEW CASES IN EARLY. BUT IT ISN'T NEW.

TIME WE DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT. >> KATE: ELI LEE, YOU SERVE ON UP WITH? >> LEE: IT'S A GOOD QUESTION, SECRETARY OF STATE AND THE IT'S VERY SMALL THINGS THAT, IN PROVISIONAL BALLOTING. WHERE YOU CAN SEE YOUR ACCURATE PRECINCTS. >> KATE: THIS IS A GOOD PLACE >> LEE: SURE. PROVISIONAL OTHER STATE. GOING TO BE TURNED AWAY AT THE WRONG PRECINCT, YOU CAN VOTE ON

POINT. WE'VE GOT TO TRY TO ELIMINATE OF THINGS AROUND VOTER WE'RE QUITE PROUD OF IS WE'RE I DON'T KNOW IF YOU'VE GOTTEN SO WE WANT TO GET SOME MONEY TO >> KATE: THE GOVERNOR'S WORK. >> LEE: ABSOLUTELY. THE PUBLIC HAS BEEN ASKING FOR I THINK WE HAVE A PRETTY WORKER, WILL ASK ME TO STATE MY IF I DO SO, I'VE MET THE ID ROLLS WHO REGISTERED PRIOR TO

THEY DON'T HAVE A NUMBER. PROPOSING. >> KATE: HOW SATISFACTORY IS >> REP. FOX-YOUNG: KATE, I ALREADY HAVE ON THE BOOKS, WHICH REALLY ISN'T VOTER ID. IT'S A VOLUNTARY VOTER ID I DON'T THINK IT'S SUFFICIENT. SUBSTANTIVE PROPOSAL. >> LEE: IT'S ACTUALLY NOT EARLY VOTING OR ABSENTEE VOTING, THEY'VE GOT TO SHOW ID IN ONE >> REP. FOX-YOUNG: THE ID I'LL TELL YOU, IF I GO REGISTER IN ANY SOCIAL I WANT, ANY BIRTH

DATE I WANT, I CAN GO SHOW UP WANT TO. IT'S BETTER THAN WHAT WE HAVE. >> HERRERA: MY BIGGEST CONCERN GOING TO DO WITH THE ABSENTEE AND EARLY VOTING SITES. WHAT DO I DO ABOUT ALL THESE -- 62,000 ABSENTEE BALLOTS FOR THE GENERAL. LOOKING AT THAT. YOU LET YOU GO IN AND VOTE AND NOT HAVE TO SHOW AN" -- OR YOU VOTED THROUGH THE ABSENTEE AND SO I'M HOPING AS YOU ALL ARE THERE.

>> REP. FOX-YOUNG: MARY, I WE DO ALREADY REQUIRE ID FOR ARE FIRST-TIME REGISTERS, WHO INTRODUCED IN 2004 -- 2003, THAT I AGREE IT SHOULD BE UNIFORM FOR >> LEE: THE COUNTY CLERK IS ANY OTHER MATTER, THEY HAVE TO >> KATE: ARE THERE ANY CONCERNS GOING TO GET LONGER AND EVEN >> HERRERA: NO, I DON'T HAVE IT DOESN'T TAKE THAT LONG TO AND YOUR FOUR DIGITS OF YOUR SO, NO, I'M NOT CONCERNED ABOUT >> KATE: SOME DEMOCRATS CONTEND PARTICULARLY MINORITY AND

AND IT CAN BE AN INVASION OF PRIVACY. >> LEE: YEAH, I THINK THE TURNOUT. IF YOU DON'T HAVE YOUR SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER, THERE'S A QUITE EXHAUSTIVE LIST THAT I BELIEVE >> KATE: REPRESENTATIVE, THIS A BARREL ON THIS ONE? >> REP. FOX-YOUNG: KATE, THE I'M GLAD THE GOVERNOR IS NOD. I'D LIKE TO SEE MORE. ANY VOTERS, NOBODY WANTS TO AND, AGAIN, WE EXPECT MORE.

I MEAN, WE WANT SOMETHING MORE >> KATE: LET'S ROLL BACK TO ONE UNDERVOTING AND THE PHANTOM SONJA ELISON, WHAT IS YOUR >> ELISON: WE WOULD LIKE TO WE'D LIKE TO HAVE OPEN SOURCE WE'D LIKE TO HAVE PERFORMANCE GUARANTEES ON ALL OF THE VOTING STATE. ON THOSE ARE FAR LESS THAN ON THE MACHINES THAT WE'RE CURRENTLY USING. IN CONTACT WITH FEEL THAT THE PAID TO IT. THOUSANDS OF CITIZENS WERE

VOTE WAS LOST. 1 OUT OF 10 HISPANICS, THEIR PRESIDENTAL VOTE WAS LOST. AND THAT IS SHAMEFUL. >> KATE: REPRESENTATIVE >> REP. FOX-YOUNG: THANK YOU, YOUR VOTE IS LOST. AND YOU'RE RIGHT THAT ELECTION THROUGH, WOULD PROVIDE THAT IF ANY INDIVIDUAL COULD GO FORWARD AND DO A RECOUNT, RECHECK, OR BECAUSE RIGHT NOW, IT'S COST GET TO THE BOTTOM OF ANY >> KATE: I'M CURIOUS WHY YOU PARTY COULD HAVE MORE EASILY

>> REP. FOX-YOUNG: THIS ISN'T A YOU'RE RIGHT, YOU'RE NOT LIKELY CONTEST OR RECHECK IN A CASE LIKE THAT, BUT WE NEED TO HAVE ABSOLUTELY RIGHT. >> KATE: WHAT ARE THE CHANCES, THIS SORT OF ASSURANCE? >> HERRERA: I UNDERSTAND THE TOUCH SCREEN THAT I CURRENTLY WILL BE ABLE TO VIEW THEIR BALLOT BEFORE THEY ACTUALLY CAST LAS VEGAS, NEW MEXICO -- NEVADA, AND THEY'RE LOOKING AT THOSE

DEVICES NOW, IN THE VOTING I DON'T KNOW HOW YOU WERE ABLE WE'VE ALWAYS HAD UNDERVOTES FOR 93,000 PEOPLE DIDN'T EVEN GO OUT TO VOTE, AND I KNOW FOR A FACT THAT SOME PEOPLE HAVE ACTUALLY TOLD ME, "MARY, I REGISTERED TO AND THAT'S AN UNDERVOTE. THIS ELECTION, THE GENERAL THEY VOTED FOR CERTAIN OTHER RACES. >> KATE: HOW CONFIDENT ARE YOU ACCURATE IN THIS LAST ELECTION? >> HERRERA: I FELT VERY LOOKED AT SOME OF THE

SCREENS. MACHINES. CERTIFIED, THEY'RE TESTED, AND ACTUALLY DO A TEST ON THESE TO, BUT THE REPUBLICANS ASKED IF WE SAID, "WE WON'T VALIDATE IT, THE SITES. >> KATE: ELI LEE, DID THE TASK MACHINES OUT OF THE COUNTIES' >> LEE: ABSOLUTELY. PLATE LAST SUMMER. TRAIL ON ANY MACHINE THAT'S

SIGNIFICANT COST FACTOR HERE. MILLION DOLLARS. OUT. EVERYONE, BUT ALSO HAVE A THAN DOING A WHOLESALE CHANGE >> KATE: WE'VE GOT ONE MINUTE IF YOU COULD GET ONE PROPOSAL >> ELISON: VOTER-VERIFIED PAPER BALLOTS WITH OPEN SOURCE >> KATE: MARY HERRERA? >> HERRERA: OPEN THE OUTER >> KATE: REPRESENTATIVE >> REP. FOX-YOUNG: A REAL VOTER >> KATE: AND ELI LEE? >> LEE: IT'S ALL THE SMALL VOTERS.

>> KATE: THANK YOU, ALL FOUR OF AVIDLY. PICTURES COURTESY OF THE WITH HER FLOWERS IN ONE HAND, AFTER THEIR VALENTINE'S DAY JUDITH PHILLIPS PULLS SOME OLD SMELL OF FRESH BREAD EVERY DAY. MAKE ONE OF THE COMPANY'S 20 THE STATE LEGISLATURE IS PEOPLE TO BE RECOGNIZED ON THE WEEK. DURING A HARD-FOUGHT GAME AGAINST WYOMING RECENTLY. CHRIS C DE BACA (LEFT) AND HERE, THEY BASK IN THE

>> KATE: AS YOU'VE JUST HEARD, SESSION, AND SOME, SUCH AS VOTER OF THE ALBUQUERQUE TRIBUNE JOINS >> KATE: HI, SHEA. >>: GOOD, KATE. >> KATE: LET'S START WITH -- WE DEMOCRATS HAVE BEEN SLOW TO TO PASS SOME VOTER ID LAW? >>: GOOD QUESTION. BILL ARE FAIRLY FLEXIBLE. THIS IS NOT THE KIND OF THAT REPUBLICAN EDWARD SANDOVAL, WHO IS THE CHAIRMAN OF THE

CONFERENCE I ATTENDED, "I DON'T THE ELECTION SYSTEM AS WE NOW WHAT MAKES THIS WORTH DOING." >> KATE: SO IF THEY PASS A WEAKER VOTER ID LAW, WHAT DO THEY GAIN? >>: YOU MIGHT SAY THAT, COMES OUT OF THIS, THE GOVERNOR PLUS WE STILL HAVE A COMMISSION SESSION." SO THIS IS NOT GOING AWAY, EVEN WITH THIS SESSION. >> KATE: THE GOVERNOR HAS A GOT TO GET IT DONE THIS TIME. WHEN PUSH COMES TO SHOVE, IF HE GOING TO PUSH FOR?

>>: I THINK HE DID A REALLY AND HE'S HAD TASK FORCES ON HOWEVER, I THINK IF IT CAME LOOKING AT TAX CUTS, PRESCHOOL, HE WAS BERATING HOUSE DEMOCRATS TODAY FOR GIVING HIM A FUNDING MUCH MORE IMPORTANT TO HIM AND THINGS ARE GOING TO WIN >>: GIVEN THAT AND THAT WE'RE WITH A VOTER ID BILL OR AN >>: 100% THAT WE'RE GOING TO GET A TASK FORCE. SOMETHING.

>> KATE: LET'S TALK ABOUT BEING OF THE SESSION. FROM OTHERS? >>: IT'S WORTH NOTING THAT PER SESSION IN THESE LONG 60-DAY NOW, AND I THINK THAT THAT MEANS THERE'S A LOT TO DO. SEE A LOT OF INITIATIVES GET LOST IN THE SHUFFLE. ON THEIR PLATE, MAJOR BILLS HAVE FOR, IS FAIRLY STALLED IN THE I THINK THAT'S ANOTHER THING IT'S GOING TO GET HOT AND HEAVY >> KATE: AND TO CLARIFY, WE'RE

AND RESOLUTIONS AND ALL THAT >>: WELL, IT'S INTERSTING. I THINK IN THE STORY WE RAN BUT THAT HAS CHANGED. TODAY, AS I SAID EARLIER, HE PUT TOGETHER AN EDUCATION BUDGET HARD ON ISSUES AND AGENDA ITEMS THE PRESSURE. HE'S BEEN IN MEETINGS WITH THE MEDIA. >> KATE: SHEA ANDERSEN OF THE >>: I WAS GLAD TO BE HERE >> KATE: THAT'S ALL THE TIME WE I'M KATE NELSON. MS. NELSON'S APPAREL WAS

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