Police called to polling site over allegations of voter coaching, counter-charges of intimidation
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An earlier version of this posting incorrectly stated that state police are still investigating.Police were called to an early voting site in Anthony on Saturday after poll workers alleged that activists were coaching voters and activists alleged that poll workers were intimidating voters.Doña Ana County Elections Supervisor Lynn Ellins said Saturday’s incident was the first time police have been called to a polling place since early voting began. It’s the first major conflict in the county over the state’s new voter identification law.The law, which went into effect this year, requires voters to provide written or verbal statements attesting to their name, year of birth and last four digits of their social security number, or to provide a physical form of identification. That could include an original or copy of a current photo identification card with or without an address, a utility bill, bank statement, government check or other paycheck, student identification card, other government document that shows name and address, or an identification card issued by an Indian tribe.A group of south-county activists have been banding together to rent limousines and drive voters to the polls since the 2004 election. On Saturday, voters met at a location off Highway 478 and were then driven to the Anthony Community Center, 875 N. Main Street, to vote.Arturo Uribe, an organizer with the N.M. Progressive Alliance for Community Empowerment, said the group made three trips to vote on Saturday. He said poll workers asked voters for identification, and those who opted to give verbal statements were asked for full social security numbers, rather than the last four digits the law allows.Victor Montoya, one of those who voted Saturday, said several people in front of him in line, including his wife, were asked for their full social security numbers and complied. Continue Reading