New Mexico high court rejects GOP suit on absentee ballots
Source: Associated Press
New Mexico high court rejects GOP suit on absentee ballots
By MORGAN LEE
October 28, 2020
SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) New Mexicos Supreme Court rejected a lawsuit Tuesday by the state Republican Party alleging that partisan poll challengers are being unfairly denied oversight of the initial absentee ballot verification process.
Three justices including the courts lone Republican, Judith Nakamura, denied the petition to intervene in the absentee voting process. Two Democratic justices recused themselves as they run for election against Republican challengers.
The lawsuit from Republicans including several state legislators and count clerks alleged that partisan challengers are being shut out of the initial verification process unnecessarily, based on privacy regulations.
Under pandemic-related voting procedures in New Mexico, absentee voters must sign and place the last four digits of their Social Security number on the outer envelope concealed by a so-called privacy flap. For rejected ballots, clerks must send a notification to voters within one day.
The courts decision was applauded by the office of Democratic Secretary of State Maggie Toulouse Oliver.
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Read more: https://apnews.com/article/virus-outbreak-lawsuits-elections-courts-voting-2020-9a5147b22da8bc39d57b5f3df37687be