About 70 people in line, mostly students, waiting to register to vote at Corbett Center Student Union on the New Mexico State University campus. People toward the front of the line said they had been waiting for about three hours so far. (Photo by Leah Romero / Source New Mexico)
New Mexico Secretary of State Maggie Toulouse Oliver said a week after Election Day that same-day voter registration was significantly delayed at polling places across the state, acknowledging the problem was worse and more widespread than her office previously had.
Toulouse Oliver described the issues Tuesday during a hearing with lawmakers, where they asked her about the election . Their constituents plus nonpartisan voter advocacy groups had reported hours-long waits on the final day of voting in the high-turnout election. Some advocates said frustrated voters leaving without casting ballots.
State Sen. Antoinette Sedillo López (D-Albuquerque) questioned Toulouse Oliver about the long lines.
“I went and made a big point in my district to say same day registration is available,” she said. “So I was just wondering what plans you have to fix that.”