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Friday, June 29, 2018

NM Libertarians want hand count of primary votes

Libertarian candidate for governor fails to make ballot | Local News | santafenewmexican.com Andrew Oxford, Santa Fe New Mexican:

June 26, 2018 - "The Libertarian candidates for governor and lieutenant governor received so few votes in the primary election that they did not qualify for spots on the general election ballot in November, state election officials said Tuesday. In response, the Libertarians will ask officials to hand-tally ballots in several counties in hopes of making the ballot....

"Under New Mexico law, gubernatorial hopeful Bob Walsh and his prospective running mate, Robin Dunn, could have each collected 230 signatures from registered Libertarian voters to get their names on the primary election ballot.

"They didn’t. Instead, they aimed to get 230 Libertarian voters to write in their names on the primary election ballot to obtain the party’s nomination.

"A total of 850 Libertarian voters cast ballots in the primary election. Walsh, a mathematician in Santa Fe, received 175 votes. Dunn, who is in the ranching business in Mountainair, got 177 votes, according to results made official Tuesday....

"Libertarian Party leaders say they suspect the machines that tabulate the ballots did not count some of their votes. The party’s primary election ballot included lines for writing in the candidates for governor and lieutenant governor. But there is also a bubble next to that line. For the machines to count the write-in vote, a voter must fill in that bubble.

"A. Blair Dunn, the Libertarian candidate for attorney general and Robin Dunn’s son, said he believes many more voters wrote in the candidates' names but did not fill in that bubble, meaning their votes have not been counted.

"The party will ask for a tally by hand in 13 counties where the party’s turnout was highest, he said.. 'We’re confident enough we’re going to cross the 230 threshold,' he said."

Unclear is exactly how much money it would cost the party. Dunn said it would likely amount to thousands of dollars, though the state would pay if the candidates are found to have enough votes to get on the general election ballot."

Read more: http://www.santafenewmexican.com/news/local_news/libertarian-candidate-for-governor-fails-to-make-ballot/article_c2378ba0-82d8-596f-83ff-5115758e6ac4.html
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