PRIMARY SCANDAL IN NEW MEXICO: Ballot Boxes Sleep Over In Party Boss' Home

[WillYourVoteBCounted]

The New Mexico Democratic Primary has another problem - a Democratic official/wife of party boss keeps uncounted ballot boxes overnight. There's a 217 vote margin between Barack Obama and Hillary Clintonout of 136 thousand ballots cast.

From New Mexico political reporter Heath Haussaman:

Uncounted Rio Arriba County ballots raise eyebrows

The New Mexico Democratic Party caucus may be tainted by three ballot boxes that spent the night in the home of the Rio Arriba County party chair or the homes of other local election officials instead of being reported to the state party.

Those ballots still haven’t been counted, but they have been retrieved by the state party.

Several sources told me the ballot boxes spent the night at the home of Rio Arriba County Democratic Party Chair Theresa Martinez, whose state-lawmaker husband, Sen. Richard Martinez, endorsed Hillary Clinton. But Richard Martinez told Santa Fe New Mexican reporter Kate Nash that the boxes actually spent the night in the homes of three polling-place managers. He gave Nash no explanation for why the results from those ballots weren’t reported to the state party last night and why they were instead kept overnight in officials’ homes.

...The Obama and Clinton campaigns should have lawyers there trying to figure out what’s happening and ready to act if necessary. My understanding is that Obama attorneys are already on their way. The state party needs to quickly resolve this and tell the public how it’s going to allay fears that the election process is tainted beyond repair.

http://haussamen.blogspot.com/2008/02/uncounted-rio-arriba-county-ballots.html

[Gman]

1. Probably makes little difference in delegate count

[blm]

2. Makes a big difference in integrity matters.

Remember that NM had serious election process issues in 2004 and the machines were QUICKLY erased.

[robinlynne]

3. and your point is....

[Gman]

5. The outcome is de minimus

More trouble than what it's worth. If your retort is meant to imply that every election should be absolutely perfect with zero problems without exception, then you can forget about it. It ain't gonna happen. Put your energy into something that can produce more results per pound of effort. In fact, you need to shoot a lot higher, really. I'm serious.

[tbyg52]

6. Yes, I know nothing in this world goes off with zero problems

but taking the ballot boxes home for a sleepover is a deliberate act, not a small oversight or inadvertent error. To anyone who has been paying the slightest attention it should set off red flags and alarm bells - including with the person who hosted the sleepover. Whoever did it either is incredibly stupid and/or ignorant or did it quite deliberately for a purpose, IMHO. I don't see any other options that fit the facts.

Edited to change "machines" to "ballot boxes," having originally just skimmed the OP. Doesn't change my opinion.

[WillYourVoteBCounted]

9. when the candidates are a few hundred votes apart, and more than a few hundred ballots "slept over

its a serious issue.

[JanusAscending]

10. Has the State actually been awarded to anyone yet??

All I hear is silence from MSM. What was the final count that they had, before the ballots went for an "overnighter". Who was leading?

[Usrename]

4. Everybody wants to sleep with the vote.

But in a primary that's sorta like incest isn't it?

:shrug:

I feel dirty and used, and I'm in Florida.

[flyarm]

7. is it illegal in NM??..eom

[grantcart]

8. I don't think a lot of people saw this kick it to give it a second chance

[WillYourVoteBCounted]

11. Update: Clinton wins by 1,709-vote margin

so I guess the party bosses taking home three ballot boxes worked out.

Next crooked states: Ohio and Texas .

No offense meant to Ohio activists, I know you are trying really hard to protect
elections.

Wonder where Cuyahoga County's ballots will go when picked up mid day to be carted
off to count office to be counted?