Jay Block, the state senator for New Mexico District 12, has called for additional security measures at polling sites following an incident of vandalism at a voting center. "Additional security is needed at polling sites to ensure voter safety," Block said.
"Another disgusting act of vandalism," said Jay C Block, New Mexico State Senator from 12th District (R). "I think we will need security at all voting centers to protect people and ensure they are not intimidated to vote. These radical leftists are mentally unhinged and dangerous. When you stand firm against these radical cowards, they fold like lawn chairs."
In late April 2024, a voting drop box at the Four Hills voting center in Albuquerque, New Mexico, was vandalized with expanding foam, rendering it temporarily unusable. According to KRQE News 13, the Bernalillo County Clerk’s Office confirmed the incident occurred during early voting for a local election and is being investigated as a possible attempt to interfere with the electoral process. County officials expressed concern over the broader implications of such acts amid rising tensions surrounding election security. This was not an isolated incident; other counties in the state have also increased surveillance at voting locations.
According to a 2024 survey conducted by the Brennan Center for Justice, nearly one in three local U.S. election officials reported being harassed, abused, or threatened in the past year. The report highlighted that 45% of election officials expressed concern for their colleagues' safety, and 20% were worried about being physically assaulted while performing their duties. These findings underscore growing threats faced by election workers, especially in politically polarized areas. The Brennan Center reported that this pattern has prompted calls for increased federal protections and resources for election offices.
A 2023 analysis from the V-Dem Institute revealed that indicators of election-related intimidation and political violence have steadily worsened in the United States since 2016. The report showed measurable declines in key areas such as voter freedom from coercion and absence of violence during electoral periods. V-Dem attributed this erosion in democratic norms to increasing partisan hostility, disinformation, and insufficient safeguards at polling locations. The U.S., according to V-Dem Institute reports, now ranks below many peer democracies regarding election integrity and voter security.
Block is a Republican member of the New Mexico State Senate representing District 12 after being elected in November 2024. According to Ballotpedia, he previously served on the Sandoval County Commission from 2016 to 2024 and ran unsuccessfully for the GOP nomination in the 2022 New Mexico gubernatorial race. He is a retired U.S. Air Force officer who has positioned himself as a conservative voice on issues such as government transparency and fiscal policy. Block's political experience centers around local governance and statewide Republican politics.
