Pojoaque board raises security concerns, authorizes legal review of Santa Fe County voting-site MOU

The Pojoaque Valley Public Schools Board voted Sept. 24 to authorize district leadership to work with legal counsel to review a September 4 draft memorandum of understanding from the Santa Fe County Clerk’s office about using district facilities as convenience voting centers for the upcoming election.

Board members expressed concern that the county’s plan to use the high school as a polling site could create security and liability risks by drawing the public into the heart of campus. A board member summarized the objection: “We are inviting not only county officials, but the public into the heart of this campus when there's not a need for it,” and said the county had not clearly communicated where voters should report, which could cause confusion on Election Day. The board asked for a signed, legally reviewed agreement before the district turns over keys or otherwise cedes operational control.

Despite those concerns, the board passed a motion authorizing the administration and board president to coordinate with the county and legal counsel and, if counsel finds the draft acceptable, to confirm the district’s participation. The motion directs legal counsel to review the county’s draft and to seek to secure terms that address liability, facility access and site logistics.

Board president Mueller said the county had represented voting would be “open ballot” and that both polling locations would be communicated to voters; multiple board members said they want stronger, written commitments and clearer public notice ahead of early voting. Administration also pledged to follow up with the county after the election to negotiate how polling locations are selected in future cycles.