Sandoval County Board to review 3,582 voter registrations after 2022 mailings; members ask for detailed counts

The Sandoval County Board of Registration agreed to reconvene March 10 to review a list of 3,582 voter registrations identified for possible cancellation following confirmation mailings administered after the 2022 elections.

The action came during a lengthy discussion at a regular board meeting in which members pressed county elections staff for counts and clarifications about inactive registrations, returned mail and how recent state and federal changes affect roll maintenance. Tina, elections staff in the Sandoval County Clerk—s Office, told the board, "So the actual number is 3,582." Chief Deputy Clerk Joey Dominguez said staff would provide additional breakdowns at the next board meeting: "We will provide that at the next board registration meeting."

Board members said the roll figures matter because they frame the scope of any cancellation action. Member Linda Lyle noted that the January 31 voter roll showed 10,666 inactive registrants out of approximately 14,200 total registrations for Sandoval County. The board asked staff to provide how many confirmation mailings the Secretary of State sent in August 2022, how many were returned as undeliverable, and how many recipients responded confirming continued residence.

County staff described how the confirmation process produced the list before the board. Tina told the board the packet initially showed 3,585 records; after processing three corrections the list now contains 3,582. Staff said the confirmation mailings and other contact efforts from the 2022 cycle account for a substantial portion of the inactive list and that additional statewide mailings and pre-election mail pieces have increased the number of registrants placed into inactive status.

Members discussed other sources that affect roll status. Board members and staff referenced the National Voter Registration Act (NVRA) as the federal framework that governs some roll-maintenance procedures, and they discussed the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act (UOCAVA) in relation to overseas and military voters. A staff member described how applications received through the federal FVAP.gov portal can act as a request for an absentee ballot and a voter registration for a federal-qualified elector.

Board members also discussed pending and recent state legislation. The chair referenced House Bill 510, which would require quarterly Board of Registration meetings and other board duties if it becomes law; the chair identified sponsors as Representative John Block and Representative Rebecca Dow. County staff noted that Automatic Voter Registration established by Senate Bill 180 will take effect July 1, 2025, and that change will increase registrations that flow from Motor Vehicle transactions.

Members raised specific operational questions the board asked staff to answer before reconvening: the total number of confirmation mailings sent in August 2022 (staff said "a little over 10,000" is the current estimate and agreed to return exact counts), how many of those mailings were returned as undeliverable, how many registrants confirmed they still live at the address, and how the 3,582 figure relates to the roughly 4,999 cancellations processed at the prior Board of Registration meeting. Staff agreed to provide the mailing counts, returns, and the comparison of lists the board referenced.

Board members also asked about deceased registrants and how the county obtains death records. Staff said the Bureau of Vital Statistics list used for removals was made available via the state portal on Feb. 18 and is processed monthly; staff cautioned that deaths that occur out of state may not transfer automatically into the county—s database.

The board set a follow-up meeting for March 10 at 2:30 p.m. to review the flash drive of records and the additional data staff pledged to provide. Deputy clerk staff also asked that the answers be made available in the public forum so residents watching the meeting can see the same information.

The board—s discussion highlighted the operational complexity of maintaining accurate voter rolls across federal reporting requirements, state law changes and administrative data sources. Staff said they will circulate the requested counts and comparisons in advance of the March meeting and will follow up with board members and the public during that session.