VOTERS SHOULD NOT HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT INEXCUSABLE BALLOT ERRORS IN AN ELECTION OF THIS MAGNITUDE AND IMPORTANCE
ALBUQUERQUE, SEPTEMBER 18 — With an entire nation on edge about ballot integrity via mail-in voting this November, The Republican Party of New Mexico is demanding that the New Mexico Secretary of State end its association with vendor Automated Election Services after the company made an inexcusable blunder in mailing out absentee ballots in Grant County.
The Rio Rancho company failed New Mexico voters when it sent out the ballots with incorrect first names. The Grant County Clerk says more than 14,600 such errors were made.
“The potential for fraud and mistakes is on everyone’s mind,” said Republican Party of New Mexico Chairman Steve Pearce. “Ballot integrity is paramount, and one such mistake is too much, let alone more than 14,000. These errors by the vendor cannot be tolerated, and the voting public should not have to worry about these kinds of blunders when so much is at stake this election.”
The Secretary of State’s Office called the error by Automated Election Services an “unfortunate mistake,” but this faux pas could have serious repercussions if this vendor is allowed to continue. RPNM wants the state to sever all ties with Automated Election Services and any connections it has with counties across New Mexico.
“If it happens once it could happen again, and this will raise real concerns and fears by voters about the integrity of the election process. The Secretary of State must reevaluate its election vendor and make all efforts to ensure names, addresses and all other information are accurate on absentee ballots should people elect to vote by mail.”
