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Residents urge Sandoval commissioners to oppose state challenge to federal election executive order
Summary
Multiple residents used public comment to urge the Sandoval County Commission to oppose New Mexico officials' lawsuit against a presidential executive order on election integrity, calling for protections such as proof of citizenship, voter ID and paper ballots.
At least a dozen residents used public comment at the Sandoval County Board of Commissioners meeting to discuss a recent presidential executive order on elections and to ask the commission to oppose the state’s decision to join a lawsuit challenging that order.
John Veltri of Placitas said President Trump's executive order (identified in his remarks as "202505523, titled preserving and protecting integrity of American elections") was intended to strengthen voter-citizenship verification, require access to federal databases for verification and prioritize paper ballots and same-day procedures. "Restoring trust in American's elections...will strengthen voter citizenship verification," Veltri said.
Several other speakers echoed concerns about election integrity and urged county action. Carol Dooley (Rio Rancho) told commissioners that federal funds for elections could be conditioned on compliance with federal integrity measures and described provisions that would direct federal agencies to share information with state election officials. Jean Montoya and Mary Jo Street asked the commission to state a formal position opposing the state's lawsuit and to coordinate with other county clerks and commissioners statewide to avoid costly litigation. "What action is this commission going to take?" Mary Jo Street asked. "We, the people, have a voice. You as elected officials are our megaphone."
Other public commenters raised related topics including property-tax appeals procedures, concerns about noncitizen Social Security numbers, and broader allegations about federal spending and transparency. None of the public comments resulted in a formal petition or vote by the commission during the meeting.
Commissioners did not take formal action on the requests to form a statewide coalition of county commissioners or to direct county election officials to take a public position; the public-comment period concluded and the board proceeded to other agenda items.
