GOP challenges voting rule in Dona Ana County
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October 31, 2008
A new election guideline handed down by New Mexico Secretary of State Mary Herrera has created controversy and challenges by at least one GOP poll watcher in Dona Ana County. The guideline deals with how election officials accommodate voters who requested an absentee ballot, but did not receive it, and go to vote in person.[1]
Rule change
When early voting began on October 7, these voters were allowed to vote with an "in-lieu-of" ballot, which are counted during a canvass period after election day. The newly issued guideline now has these voters sign an affidavit stating they have not received an absentee ballot, then they are given a regular ballot and allowed to vote normally.
Voters challenged
GOP poll watcher Charles Beard challenged several votes attempted under the new guidelines. He said the Republican Party is concerned because the affidavits skip the canvass period and so have no way of being tracked. His challenges were all overruled by Robert Hernandez, presiding judge at the Dona Ana County government center polling location.[1]
Dona Ana County acting elections supervisor Mario Jimenez assured absentee ballots are checked against in-person early voters. "Any of these individuals who have completed an affidavit, those affidavits are going to be compared to the signature rosters of individuals who have returned an absentee ballot," he said. "If for some reason somebody did return an absentee ballot and cast an absentee ballot, that ballot will not be counted, and that individual will be forwarded to the (District Attorney's) office for attempting to vote twice."[1]
While he remains unclear why the new rule was issued, Jimenez said there were reports of many voters who had requested absentee ballots and not received them. The new rule helps to expedite these voters.
See also
References
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