Court action delays land commissioner re-count

The statewide re-count of the vote for New Mexico Commissioner of Public Lands, which was supposed to begin in all state counties on Dec. 8, has been delayed to allow the state supreme court to hear a challenge to the recount, according to Debbie Romero, a supreme court clerk.

The incumbent commissioner, Ray Powell, asked the supreme court to intervene in the case, the Associated Press reported.

Powell received 704 fewer votes than Republican challenger Aubrey Dunn in the first canvass of the state vote in the Nov. 4 general election. The difference was less than one-half of 1 percent, which means a recount is required under state law.

Powell's petition to the Supreme Court contends that the board's plans for the recount would use improper procedures and wouldn't properly check the accuracy of vote tabulating machines, the Associated Press said.

The supreme court will hear arguments on Powell’s challenge at 11 a.m. Monday, Romero said.

No date has been set for the re-count to begin after the supreme court’s deliberations, according to Ellen White, chief deputy clerk in Quay County.