Recently, the United States 10th Circuit Court of Appeals unanimously ruled against New Mexico’s voter data restrictions which criminalized otherwise legal conduct. This is a clear victory for election transparency and public confidence.
Simply put, the 10th Circuit reaffirmed a basic principle: elections belong to the people, and the public has a right to see how voter rolls are maintained. States cannot claim transparency while threatening criminal penalties against those who are trying to see public records.
At Our America, we focus specifically on commonsense election safeguards like voter ID—policies that are overwhelmingly supported by Americans of all backgrounds. Transparency rulings like this one complement that work. Accurate, accessible voter rolls and clear voter ID standards serve the same goal of ensuring that every lawful vote counts and that the public can trust the process.
This decision strengthens the ability of citizens to verify voter rolls, identify errors, and ask legitimate questions without intimidation. It also sets a precedent across multiple states—and offers a model the rest of the country should follow.
Transparency and voter ID are not competing ideas. Together, they form the foundation of elections that are accessible, fair, and trusted by the people they serve.
