Santa Fe County canvassing board certifies June 2 primary; clerk reports 32.16% turnout

The Santa Fe County canvassing board unanimously certified the county’s June 2, 2026 primary election results Friday after a presentation from County Clerk Rosangela Ortiz, who said the contest produced a 32.16% turnout.

County Clerk Rosangela Ortiz told the board that about 15,000 voters cast early ballots, roughly 5,000 ballots were processed as absentee and more than 16,000 votes were cast on election day. "We had a 32.16% turnout, which is I believe the highest in the state," Ortiz said.

Ortiz also reviewed administrative details: 681 same-day voter registrations statewide for this contest (344 of them on election day in the county), an almost 80% cure rate for ballots rejected for technical defects, and an absentee ballot return rate of about 78%. She reported 1,186 first-time voters and said 280 overseas (federally qualified) electors were sent ballots, with about 170 of those returning them (the clerk presented that latter figure as approximate in the presentation).

The clerk credited extensive outreach and several local innovations for the turnout, including "pajama voting," a school "kids vote" program, and a "paws at the polls" adoption event at the Nancy Rodriguez site. Ortiz said the office ran targeted postcard mailings to voters affected by temporary polling-site moves (including sites in Hondo and the Edgewood area) and used social-media education for the county’s first semi-open primary.

Commissioners praised the clerk’s office and election staff. Commissioner Adam Johnson, who voted at Christian Life Church, said the experience was "super simple, super quick." Commissioners noted that site changes exposed a communications gap and urged broader posting on community social pages to ensure affected voters see notices.

Board members also discussed recent federal proposals that could affect absentee voting. Commissioners asked whether the clerk’s office was coordinating with the secretary of state and federal agencies; Ortiz said the county is working with the secretary of state, that officials are participating in an open USPS comment process, and that clerks can submit comments to help prepare a coordinated response.

After the presentation and brief discussion, Commissioner Hank Hughes moved to approve the June 2, 2026 primary election results. Commissioner Lisa Kakari Stone seconded the motion; the board voted unanimously in favor. County staff signed the certification documents and the clerk outlined the next steps: submission of results to the secretary of state, a state canvas, an independent post-election audit by a third party, and a post-voting system check scheduled to begin in two weeks.

The meeting then concluded with a motion to adjourn.