Pearce Calls for Removal of BoE Director

Press Release

Between 3,000 to 5,000 Dona Ana County voters who were supposed to have gotten their absentee ballots within 24 hours of making the request instead had them mailed to them at the last minute Friday night. Elections officials admitted to not observing state law when it came to getting the absentee ballots out in time. The problem was discovered when the wife of a candidate in Dona Ana County asked why some of their constituents had not gotten their absentee ballots yet, just days before the election.

"This is beyond unacceptable," said Congressman Steve Pearce. "Thousands of New Mexicans will not be able to vote as a result of this action. It should be investigated and those responsible must be held accountable."

"The director of the Bureau of Elections should lose his job and we should install someone who can oversee this election fairly and competently," he added.

The job of Bureau of Elections director was clouded in controversy after Tom Udall's son-in-law, James Noel, was originally picked to head the agency. After public exposure and embarrassment forced the Secretary of State to withdraw the pick, the controversy continued when the replacement turned out to be Gerald Gonzalez who once served as Udall's chief of staff. No explanation as to why Gonzalez, who has no known qualifications for the job, was chosen.

In addition, the Secretary of State is allowing those who requested absentee ballots to vote early which creates the possibility that some people could actually vote more than once.

"None of it passes the smell test and New Mexicans are tired of it," said Pearce. "If they're not trying to install officials with serious conflicts of interest, they are doing what they can to suppress votes. It's shameful and there should be a broad investigation into these kinds of tactics."

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