It’s possible that more than 3,300 absentee ballots in Doña Ana County won’t be counted until at least Wednesday morning, which could affect most local races and some statewide races.
County elections officials said a district judge refused to issue an order allowing two things – the opening of the early voting ballot box from Hatch and the opening of four precincts’ locked boxes.
A worker error means the Hatch early votes need to be recounted. And workers erroneously put all materials from their precincts – including any absentee ballots that were cast – into the locked boxes. Officials can’t tally absentee ballots until those boxes are opened.
The judge, Doug Driggers, said county officials didn’t tell him that absentee ballots were involved, but said he made his decision because he could not adequately consider the situation tonight.
“It would wait until tomorrow morning when I could look at the statutes before me, rather than issuing an order from my home,” Driggers said. “We’ll just wait until tomorrow at 8 a.m. and see what comes up.”
With two nearly tied House races in Doña Ana County and several other close races, candidates from both parties are nervous, upset and confused by Driggers’ decision.