State police out in force in Sunland Park

Various campaigns working to win voters near a polling place in Sunland Park earlier today.

DA expects to soon charge another person with illegally influencing El Paso residents to vote in NM; meanwhile, Election Day voting is running smoothly but turnout is light.

N.M. State Police officers are out in force in Sunland Park during today’s election to investigate, provide protection for state officials and reassure residents that they can safely vote.

A scene from the Sunland Park Fire Station, one of two polling places in the city.

Some officers are patrolling the city to ensure the election runs smoothly, Doña Ana County District Attorney Amy Orlando said. Another is there to gather evidence, including absentee ballots cast by Texans. And two officers are there to provide protection for Secretary of State Dianna Duran and State Auditor Hector Balderas, who are both in the city conducting investigations.

“We wanted to make sure our elected officials are protected during what could be a heated day,” Orlando said.

How we got here

The police presence comes in the wake of the arrests of several city officials, including Mayor Pro Tem Daniel Salinas (who is running for mayor), on extortion and other charges related to the election. Most recently, the director of Sunland Park’s senior center, Silvia Gomez, was arrested on felony charges alleging she influenced two El Paso residents to illegally vote for Salinas.

Gomez bonded out of jail Monday.

Orlando has said people “associated with the electoral process in Sunland Park,” Salinas’ campaign, and Sunland Park city government “have attempted to illegally influence the vote and the campaign results for the Mar. 6 election.” Though the district attorney and secretary of state believe the election’s integrity has been compromised, a district judge last week ordered things to proceed today as planned.

So law enforcement and county elections officials are trying to ensure the integrity of the election from this point forward.

Election Day running smoothly; probe continues

Doña Ana County Clerk Lynn Ellins is also in Sunland Park today, and said so far the election is running smoothly. Election Day turnout is light. As of about 9:30 a.m., 28 people had voted at the city’s two polling places. By contrast, close to 500 votes were cast early.

“It’s been calm. It’s been peaceful,” Ellins said.

At least some votes cast before Election Day won’t be counted. Orlando said early in-person votes cast by people who aren’t Sunland Park residents can’t be tracked and disqualified. So far, she said investigators know of 15-20 early in-person votes cast by Texans that will be counted toward the final results.

But absentee ballots cast by Texans and other people who don’t live in Sunland Park can be identified and tossed out. Orlando said investigators know of 4-6 of those, and a state police officer will confiscate them as evidence when they are opened this evening.

Orlando said the criminal investigation continues. Additional people who registered and voted early in the election have come forward to cooperate in exchange for amnesty. She said she expects that another person will be arrested soon and charged with influencing people who don’t live in Sunland Park to vote in the election.