Senate Republican Leader Greg Baca Issues Statement After SRC Passage of SB8

Senate Republican Leader Greg Baca Issues Statement After Senate Rules Committee Passage of Senate Bill 8

Governor endorsed election reform bill weakens ballot integrity

SANTA FE – This morning, Senate Bill 8 was given a do pass recommendation out of Senate Rules Committee on a 7-4 vote. Senate Republican Leader, Senator Greg Baca (District 29-Bernalillo and Valencia), Senate Republican Caucus Chair, Senator Mark Moores (District 21-Bernallilo), Senator Stuart Ingle (District 27-Chaves, Curry, De Baca, and Roosevelt), and Senator Cliff Pirtle (District 32-Chaves, Otero, and Eddy) all voted against the legislation.

Senate Bill 8 is Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham's endorsed election code reformation bill. Among the major changes outlined in the legislation are permanent use of ballot drop boxes, permanent absentee ballot mailing lists, provisions to allow third parties access to records of individuals who are not registered to vote and giving felons on parole or on probation the ability to vote. Other notable changes include loosening of security measures surrounding online voter registration and automatic back-end voter registration during any DMV transaction. The bill is set to be paid for by raiding the early childhood trust fund.

Senators Baca issued the following statement regarding the legislation's advancement:

"Almost 6 in 10 New Mexicans lack confidence in the results of the previous election. The Governor—in a year when she is down in the polls and set to appear on the ballot—has endorsed legislation that would change the electorate composition just months before the election. With no regard for what the voting public is actually concerned about, the Governor is ready to make our elections easier to cheat in and harder to trust the process. Despite the philosophical disagreements we may have with many of the provisions, there must be transparency and trust reinstalled in the voters of our state with simple and agreed upon provisions such as voter ID."

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