New Mexico Democracy Project - New Mexico First

Candidate Principles for Trusted Elections ~ Election Integrity

The New Mexico Democracy Project is an initiative led by a coalition of organizations, businesses and individuals including New Mexico First, the New Mexico Chamber of Commerce, the New Mexico Local News Fund, New Mexico Open Elections, New Mexico Public Broadcasting Service and the League of Women Voters of New Mexico.

The coalition’s work embraces activities intended to build trust in our elections and our candidates leading up to the general election in November 2022.

The Candidate Principles for Trusted Elections is a national initiative that New Mexico First and partner organizations have brought to a local level, and the Election Integrity effort is a stateside awareness activity of the coalition.

Candidate Principles for Trusted Elections

See coverage of the above public service video aired on KOAT 7 Action News!

Our republic is at a critical moment with increasing polarization undermining fundamental American values. A national effort was recently launched to advance leadership by former and current officials regarding ethical practices by candidates. The Candidate Principles were developed by citizens, candidates, and campaign professionals from both sides of the aisle and represent a set of standards that spell out, in a straightforward and nonpartisan way, our understanding of what good elections mean. The national initiative is supported by a cross-partisan network of civic, business, and religious leaders including the Carter Center, Ford Presidential Foundation, Lugar Center, and the National Institute on Civil Discourse.

The Candidate Principles for Trusted Elections is being led in our state by a coalition of organizations including New Mexico First, the New Mexico Chamber of Commerce, the New Mexico Local News Fund, New Mexico Open Elections and New Mexico PBS. As Keith Manes, Lea County Clerk writes, “New Mexico has always been a model for other states in the conduct of elections.” We believe New Mexico candidates, as well as other leaders, can be role models for our state, and for our nation.

Supporters of the Candidate Principles include Commissioner of Public Lands candidates Stephanie Garcia Richard (D) and Jefferson Byrd (R), former Governor Garrey Carruthers (R), former Lt. Governor Diane Denish (D) and former State Senator and Secretary of Labor Clinton Harden (R) — with more joining every day.

Leading up to the 2022 election, all New Mexico candidates and state leaders, including former elected officials, organizations, businesses and individuals were invited to endorse the five Candidate Principles:

Honest Process. Cooperate with election officials, adhere to rules and regulations, and refrain from knowingly propagating falsehoods about the electoral process.

Civil Campaign. Encourage a peaceful election atmosphere during the pre-election, polling, counting, and post-election periods. Denounce any attempt to intimidate, harass, threaten or incite violence against opponents, their supporters, and election workers.

Secure Voting. Respect voters’ freedom to exercise their lawful rights to register and vote, free from interference, obstruction, or intimidation.

Fair Oversight. Encourage political parties and others to train poll-watchers on the election process and appropriate roles and behaviors, responsibilities, and obligations.

Trusted Outcomes. Make claims of election irregularities in accordance with the law and acknowledge the legitimacy of the outcomes after the results have been certified and all contestations decided.

Candidates, present and former elected officials, organizations, businesses and individuals were all invited to endorse the Candidate Principles. Names of those who signed on to the Candidate Principles were added to the list of national supporters.

Learn who endorsed the Candidate Principles in New Mexico!

Why Candidate Principles for New Mexico? Learn more here!

Election Integrity Awareness Campaign

The NM Democracy Project’s election integrity awareness campaign includes a collection of activities aimed to bring information about the election process to New Mexico voters.

Learn more about our election integrity activities!

The following partners have come together in an effort to build trust in our elections and candidates:

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For more information about the New Mexico Democracy Project activities, please contact Sharon Berman at sharon@nmfirst.org.

The New Mexico Democracy Project is possible through the generous support of The Carter Center and Thornburg Foundation. The contents of this website are the responsibility of New Mexico First and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Carter Center or of Thornburg Foundation.