New Mexico Election Official Faces Online Threats

New Mexico Secretary of State Maggie Toulouse Oliver revealed she has faced threats and harassment on social media after validating President-elect Donald Trump's election victory. Her comments came during a legislative briefing focused on election administration and vote certification, following increased same-day voter registrations. Intimidation of election officials in New Mexico is classified as a fourth-degree felony under a 2023 law, and Toulouse Oliver plans to report these threats to law enforcement.

Toulouse Oliver's social media post affirming Trump's win was intended to counter rising conspiracy theories while acknowledging ongoing vote counts elsewhere, she said. The backlash was harsh, with accusations of treason and threats. She restricted access to her personal X account as a precaution and is compiling evidence for potential police and attorney general investigations. However, her official account remains accessible. She accused Republican state Rep. John Block of instigating online hostilities, though she did not identify particular posts.

Block acknowledged facing harassment himself, condemning violent threats as unacceptable. During the legislative session, Toulouse Oliver advocated for new security measures to shield election workers' home addresses from public view on government websites. Such protections were extended to elected and appointed officials in 2023. In the recent elections, Trump did not win New Mexico, which saw a re-election of Democratic congressional representatives and a Senate seat, despite Republicans making slight gains in the state legislature. Over 52,000 residents utilized same-day voter registration in the state. (This story was generated by Newser's AI chatbot. Source: the AP)