A handful of election administrators in New Mexico who are responsible for overseeing the voting process in their counties amplify Trump’s claims of a “rigged” election in 2020 or continue to spread disinformation about election integrity. They include:
- Gerald Matherly | Otero County Board of Commissioners (District 1)
In June 2022, Gerald Matherly voted against certifying the county’s primary election results based on his desire to first ascertain if there had been any fraud, according to Reuters. New Mexico’s secretary of state sued him and the two other county commissioners and threatened to request a criminal investigation into whether their actions were “willful violations” of the state election code. But Matherly eventually agreed to certify the results after the state Supreme Court ordered him to do so. Earlier that year, the three Otero commissioners had hired a Massachusetts-based marketing firm to search for signs of fraud in the county’s 2020 presidential election returns, even though Trump won there by a large margin. - Vickie Marquardt | Otero County Board of Commissioners (District 3)
In June 2022, Vickie Marquardt voted against certifying the county’s primary election results because she says she is a “hardcore” Trump supporter and did not trust the county’s voting machines, according to Reuters. New Mexico’s secretary of state sued her and the two other county commissioners and threatened to request a criminal investigation into whether their actions were “willful violations” of the state election code. But Marquardt eventually agreed to certify the results after the state Supreme Court ordered her to do so. Earlier that year, the three Otero commissioners had hired a Massachusetts-based marketing firm to search for signs of fraud in the county’s 2020 presidential election returns, even though Trump won there by a large margin. - Jay Block | Sandoval County Board of Commissioners (District 2)
In June 2022, Jay Block—who had just lost his Republican primary bid for governor —was the sole commissioner in the county who voted against certifying the primary election results. “It is imperative that we are presented with a complete set of facts,” he said in explaining his vote.