Election Security & How Recounts Are Handled

The midterm election is over and as expected, there were some close races. A few contests for seats in the New Mexico House Representatives will go to automatic recounts. But not every one of them will.

How are recounts handled? When does the state ask for one, and what happens when a candidate requests one? Who counts your ballot? This week, Chris and Gabby take listeners behind the scenes with New Mexico’s Secretary of State, Democrat Maggie Toulouse Oliver. A former Bernalillo County Clerk, Toulouse Oliver explains what measures are put in place to keep elections safe, secure, and accurate across the state. She also busts a few myths about voting machines and how ballots are counted. 

Stick around to the end of the episode for a breakdown of the election outcomes for several other statewide offices and the New Mexico House of Representatives.

We mentioned some related news coverage in this episode. Here's a link to our recent "exit interview" with Bernalillo County Sheriff Manny Gonzales, who leaves office at the end of the year. For a full slate of election related stories on KRQE.com, visit and scroll down on our Local Elections landing page.

Leave us a review on whatever platform you're listening on. You can also email the hosts at chris.mckee@krqe.com or gabrielle.burkhart@krqe.com with your story ideas or feedback. Also, find us on social media, including Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram at @ChrisMcKeeTV and @gburkNM. For more on this episode and all of our prior episodes, visit our website: KRQE.com/podcasts.