Over the past month, New Mexico's Secretary of State’s office has dispatched over 105,000 voter registration invitations to residents across the state. Known as Eligible But Unregistered (EBU) mailers, this number marks a notable increase from the 49,220 sent in 2022. State Senator David Gallegos (R-Eunice) has expressed concerns regarding this surge and its implications for voter integrity.

Senator Gallegos emphasized the need for transparency in voting systems. He stated that recent practices are steering away from such transparency. "In response to my request under the New Mexico Inspection of Public Records Act (IPRA), the Governor’s office claimed they had 'no records' related to my inquiries on this matter," said Gallegos. This lack of information has fueled suspicions about potential undisclosed activities surrounding voter registration.

According to Senator Gallegos, there is an inability within the Secretary of State’s office to verify citizenship status on voter applications. He noted instances where EBU mailers were reportedly sent to non-citizens. In one case in Roswell, multiple mailers were sent to a single address with some addressed to individuals not found in local records or social media platforms, raising questions about their eligibility.

The data used for these EBU mailers comes from New Mexico Motor Vehicle Division (MVD) records. However, according to Gallegos, criminal elements have exploited system weaknesses by using fraudulent documents to obtain driver’s licenses for those not legally eligible.

The Secretary of State acknowledged reliance on self-affirmation by applicants due to a lack of national databases for verifying citizenship. This approach may lead to errors and misuse when non-citizens receive unsolicited registration invitations.

A new law effective July 1, 2025—NMSA 1-4-47—will automatically register people interacting with state agencies unless they opt out. Senator Gallegos warned that this could increase non-citizen registrations if current issues are not resolved.

Gallegos urged a suspension of further mailings until eligibility verification is improved and vulnerabilities are addressed: "This isn’t about politics; it’s about protecting the integrity of New Mexico’s elections and restoring public trust."

He called for action ensuring only eligible voters receive registration solicitations: "The citizens of New Mexico deserve a voting process that is fair, transparent, and above all, secure."