Quay receives update on general election procedures

Quay County’s clerk gave the county commission an update Monday on general election procedures, including a political action committee’s mass mailing that has sparked confusion among many voters.

Ellen White said about 1,100 residents have received absentee ballot applications for the November election from the nonpartisan, nonprofit Center for Voter Information, formerly the Voter Participation Center, that can be filled out and mailed to the clerk’s office. White said her office has received about 100 filled applications from the center. She said they’re part of the center’s nationwide campaign, with millions mailed.

White said while those forms are “completely legal” and would be fulfilled by her office, “a lot of people are confused because they think it’s the only way they can vote.” She said regular Election Day voting and early voting that begins Oct. 6 would continue as usual.

“I don’t want them to feel like their vote is compromised,” White added later.

White also sent out a news release Friday and posted on social media to clarify details about the Center for Voter Information’s campaign and the county’s stance on the issue.

Answering questions from Commissioner Sue Dowell, White said it is each Quay County voter’s decision whether to request an absentee vote application. White also said inactive voters in other New Mexico counties that have elected to mail applications en masse wouldn’t receive the forms.

“I think it’s horrible it looks so official,” Dowell said of the Center for Voter Information’s mailing.

White said the state has added safeguards for absentee voting. Voters used to be required to supply a signature and date of birth. Now voters must supply a signature and the last four digits of their Social Security number. White said birthdates are too readily available on the internet. Absentee ballot mailings also would have tracking codes to locate them if they’re lost.

White said if an absentee ballot is returned to her office unsigned or lacking numbers, staff would call the voter at least twice in to rectify it. She said voters also can wait until the canvass a few days after Election Day to make those corrections.

One significant hurdle for the November election is the county won’t mail absentee ballots to voters after Oct. 20, she said. That shortens the traditional absentee-ballot return window by about two weeks.

White said she must form an additional precinct board to handle absentee ballots and provisional ballots this fall.

White said polling places now would be called voting centers and require a high-speed internet connection. Because the Nara Visa precinct lacks such a connection, White said she would convert that area to an all-mail ballot precinct. Nara Visa voters also are allowed to vote early or cast their ballot in another county precinct.

In other business:

• The commission heard complaints from Bard-Endee fire chief and former county fire marshal Donald Adams about a recent semi-truck fire at an Interstate 40 rest area near the Texas border. Saying county dispatchers “need better training,” Adams said an officer should have been sent there after a report of possible gunshots. He said he also had difficulty getting New Mexico State Police to respond because they were asleep and that a county deputy claimed he couldn’t take a report.

“My guys are pretty upset” over the situation, Adams said.

Commissioner Mike Cherry suggested the county call a local New Mexico State Police captain in an effort to resolve the problem. Dowell also suggested the county send a letter to the Department of Public Safety.

• During the commissioner comments portion of the meeting, Dowell said she’s detected “hopelessness and frustration” from residents and business owners due to the coronavirus restrictions. She said businesses “need some breaks,” and state officials had “attacked and demeaned” local officials.

She said the New Mexico Association of Counties needs to work more with rural counties. She praised Brian Moore, co-owner of the Ranch Market in Clayton and a member of the state’s Economic Recovery Council, for listening to concerns and persuading the state to loosen its COVID-19 restrictions to allow livestock shows.

Commission Chairman Franklin McCasland concurred with many of Dowell’s remarks, adding “we’re all frustrated” with the state.

• The commission approved an amendment to the county’s fiscal year 2020 audit contract. Because the county accepted more than $750,000 from the federal Community Development Block Grant program, an additional 60 hours must be added to the audit contract. County finance director Cheryl Simpson said that would cost an additional $6,300 plus gross receipts taxes.