Serving the High Plains
Serving the High Plains
Staff report
The statewide recount in the New Mexico land commissioner race, which was supposed to begin Monday, has been delayed twice. No recount date had been set as of Tuesday morning.
The recount is now the subject of wrangling between attorneys for the candidate who initially tallies show lost the election and the state’s canvassing board, refereed by the state Supreme Court.
The court heard arguments on Monday but sent the attorneys away to reach a settlement. After tentatively agreeing to Wednesday for the recount date, the negotiations fell through again on Monday, causing another delay, according to Ellen White, Quay County’s chief deputy clerk.
Incumbent Commissioner Ray Powell asked the court to intervene in the recount, The Associated Press reported.
Powell received 704 fewer votes than Republican challenger Aubrey Dunn out of about 500,000 votes cast in the first canvass of 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 the board’s plans for the recount would not properly check the accuracy of vote tabulating machines.
White said the main issue in discussions was how many test ballots should be counted in each machine to determine accuracy.