Sandoval County adopts 2026 legislative priorities after commissioner objects to voter ID language
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Summary
The commission adopted its 2026 legislative priorities (Resolution 11-2012-25.11A) after correcting an attachment and tabling the New Mexico Counties packet. Commissioner Joshua Jones objected to language requiring voter ID, saying it would disenfranchise tribal residents who face documentation barriers.
The Sandoval County Board of County Commissioners voted to adopt its legislative priorities for the 2026 session on Nov. 12 after discussing a disputed voter-identification provision and correcting an incorrect packet attachment.
County staff introduced the resolution as largely unchanged from the prior year. Commissioner Joshua Jones said he supported most items but opposed language in sections 11A and 11B that would require voter identification, arguing it would disproportionately burden tribal residents in his district. "This requirement is, essentially limiting voting, for people within my district," Jones said, noting that some residents lack birth certificates or stable address documentation and that obtaining such documents can take months.
County staff acknowledged a scrivener—s error in the packet: the attachment for item 11B did not contain the New Mexico Counties (NMC) priorities and instead duplicated the county—s own list. Staff and commissioners corrected the attachment and tabled 11B to provide the proper NMC priorities for review. The board then voted to adopt 11A.
No formal statutory change was made at the meeting; the action establishes the county—s lobbying and advocacy priorities for the coming legislative session and directs staff and the county—s lobbying firm to pursue those items.