What a mess! This saddens me deeply, why can’t the greatest nation in the world run good clean elections? This problem seems to be nation wide. I think of that old staying, “Where there is smoke, there is fire” My concern with all the messes we are having across our nation with elections is that it will discourage people to vote.
New Mexico’s midterm election results were certified Tuesday, but not before a dispute over the legality of online absentee ballots applications ABQ JOURNAL Report
FGGAM NEWS received this news release yesterday:
Bipartisan State Canvassing Board Unanimously Certifies 2018 General Election Results
State Canvassing Board Orders Automatic Recounts in Two Legislative Races, Will Reconvene Friday to Order Remaining Recount
SANTA FE – New Mexico’s State Canvassing Board met today in Santa Fe and unanimously certified the official results of the 2018 general election. The Board also officially ordered automatic recounts in two electoral contests, with another recount scheduled to be ordered when the Board reconvenes on Friday of this week. The official, certified results for every 2018 general election contest except those with pending recounts can be viewed on the Secretary of State’s website.
“In an election year that included an influx of misinformed and negative partisan rhetoric around election security and administration, we proved today at the State Canvassing Board meeting that every New Mexican voter should have the highest level of confidence in these official election results and in the conduct of the 2018 general election,” said Sec. of State Maggie Toulouse Oliver.
The three members of the State Canvassing Board – Governor Susana Martinez, Secretary of State Maggie Toulouse Oliver, and Chief Justice of the New Mexico Supreme Court Judith Nakamura –were all in attendance today, along with members of the press and public who gathered in the Cabinet Room of the Governor’s Office to observe the proceedings. The Board voted unanimously to certify the results of the 2018 general election.
After signing the certificates of canvass and certificates of election that make the results of the 2018 general election official and allow the winners to assume office at the start of their terms, the State Canvassing Board ordered automatic recounts in two legislative races, House Districts 22 and 63. Because of an administrative delay, the Board was not able to include the recount for House District 20 on today’s agenda and thus will reconvene, in accordance with Open Meetings Act requirements, on Friday, November 30, 2018 to order a recount for House District 20.
Following New Mexico law, automatic recounts were ordered because the vote margin between the two candidates in each race is less than one-percent (NMSA 1978 §1-14-24(A)). In House District 22, Jessica Velasquez received 8,058 votes (49.57% of the total) and Gregg Schmedes received 8,198 votes (50.43% of the total). In House District 63, George Dodge Jr. received 2,955 votes (49.77% of the total) and Martin Zamora received 2,982 votes (50.23% of the total).
In House District 20, where the recount will be ordered on Friday of this week, Abbas Akhil received 5,896 votes (50.49%% of the total) and Jim Dines received 5,781 votes (49.51% of the total).
The automatic recount process for House District 22 will begin on Tuesday, December 4, 2018 and will be administered by the county clerks of the counties which comprise the district (Bernalillo, Sandoval, and Santa Fe). The automatic recount process for House District 63 will begin on Wednesday, December 5, 2018 and will be administered by the county clerks of the counties which comprise the district (Curry, De Baca, Guadalupe, Roosevelt, and San Miguel).
The State Canvassing Board will reconvene at a later date to certify the results of the recounts.
####
