Holmes noted that the state-owned vote tabulation machines from Dominion are tested by Otero County officials in public view and that the machines also are independently certified in advance. I just can’t,” said Holmes, a Republican. “The election law does not allow me to hand tally these ballots or to even form a board to do it. On Monday, Holmes said those instructions from the county commissions conflict with state and federal election law, and that she would only recount the election by hand under a court order. The Otero County commission voted last week to recount ballots from the statewide primary election by hand, remove state-mandated ballot drop boxes that facilitate absentee voting and discontinue the use of Dominion vote tabulation machines in the general election. Election results also are audited by random samplings to verify levels of accuracy in the vote count. New Mexico uses paper ballots that can be double-checked later in all elections, and also relies on tabulation machines to rapidly tally votes while minimizing human error. She accused the commission of willful violations of the state election code. “The post-election canvassing process is a key component of how we maintain our high levels of election integrity in New Mexico and the Otero County Commission is flaunting that process by appeasing unfounded conspiracy theories and potentially nullifying the votes of every Otero County voter who participated in the primary,” Toulouse Oliver said in a statement. Under state law, county canvass boards can call on a voting precinct board to address specific discrepancies, but no discrepancies were identified on Monday by the Otero commission. Local election officials dispute many of the findings as mistaken or unfounded.Ĭounty canvassing boards have until June 17 to certify election results, prior to state certification and preparation of general election ballots. The couple has highlighted problems during sporadic, hourslong presentations to the commission this year. Election officials including County Clerk Robyn Holmes say the Clements are not certified auditors nor experts in election protocols. The Clements are traveling advocates for “forensic” reviews of the 2020 election and offer their services as election experts and auditors to local governments. ![]() New Mexico’s Dominion machines have been disparaged repeatedly by David and Erin Clements of Las Cruces in their review of the 2020 election in Otero County and voter registration rolls at the request of the commission. The company has filed defamation lawsuits in response to incorrect and outrageous claims made by high-profile Trump allies. ![]() Trump has continued to describe the 2020 election as “rigged” or “stolen,” despite a coalition of top government and industry officials calling it the “most secure in American history.”ĭominion’s systems also have been unjustifiably attacked since the 2020 election by people who embraced the false belief that the election was stolen from Trump. ![]() ![]() The commission’s vote is the latest example of how conspiracy theories and misinformation are affecting the integrity of local elections across the U.S. Northern Michigan man charged for role in Capitol riot He acknowledged that the standoff over this primary could delay the outcome of local election races. 6, 2021, and is scheduled for sentencing later this month. Capitol grounds - though not the building - amid the riots on Jan. Griffin was convicted of illegally entering restricted U.S. The commission’s members include Cowboys for Trump co-founder Couy Griffin, who ascribes to unsubstantiated claims that former President Donald Trump won the 2020 election. (AP) - New Mexico’s secretary of state on Tuesday asked the state Supreme Court to order the Republican-led commission of rural Otero County to certify primary election results after it refused to do so over distrust of Dominion vote-tallying machines.ĭemocratic Secretary of State Maggie Toulouse Olive’s request came a day after the three-member Otero County commission, in its role as a county canvassing board, voted unanimously against certifying the results of the June 7 primary without raising specific concerns about discrepancies.
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