Serving the High Plains
Serving the High Plains
Staff report
The statewide recount in the New Mexico land commissioner race will begin at 7:30 a.m. Thursday, according to Veronica Mares, Quay County clerk.
In Quay County, the recount will be conducted in the county commission’s meeting room in the Quay County Courthouse, Mares said.
TThe recount had been delayed twice as issues involving test ballot counting were settled in the New Mexico Supreme Court.
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.
Ellen White, Quay County’s chief deputy clerk, said the main issue in discussions was how many test ballots should be counted in each machine to determine accuracy.