What are these politicians trying to do? Manipulate the system? Prove something to the public? Campaigning by getting their favorite question placed on the ballot? Making a mockery of the voting process? Next thing you know they will want to sell advertising on the ballot! Even the New Mexico Supreme Court doesn’t get it! See Paul Holt’s post at the end of this news release we just got from NM Secretary of State Dianna Duran. Thankful she is sticking to her guns! PS: Why don’t these Politicians just go visit the people they serve and hold Town Hall meetings? Duh! What a thought!
SANTA FE—The Office of the Secretary of State received a letter today from the Chaves County Manager
requesting that his county be allowed to place up to four advisory questions on the general election
ballot. Secretary of State Dianna Duran directed her Elections Director to inform the county manager
that such questions are not currently authorized under New Mexico law.
“We informed the county manager that advisory questions on a general election ballot are not
authorized in statute, or in the constitution,” said Duran, “questions on the general election
ballot have to be authorized in law, and must enact law. No county is allowed to place opinion
poll questions on the ballot.”
The Secretary of State’s office provided the following correspondence from the Chaves County Manager:
“…this may be our opportunity…get a couple of very important issues in Chaves County put forth
for discussion and consideration by the voters. Picking up on what Bernalillo County
Commissioner O’Malley said, I would like…to see if we could put the following advisory
questions on the November ballot to let the citizens of Chaves County vote on these
important issues we have debated:
Are you in favor of the Chaves County Commission enacting a Right-to-Work ordinance…?
Are you in favor of the Chaves County Commission enacting a Voter ID ordinance that would
require voters to present a photo ID…?
Are you in favor of the Chaves County Commission enacting an ordinance that would permit the
concealed carry of handguns within Chaves County?
Are you in favor of the Chaves County Commission [prohibiting] the harboring, releasing,
transporting and the raising of wolves within Chaves County…?
“It doesn’t matter what the questions are, or the subject matter, or who is asking them,” said Duran,
“New Mexico law just doesn’t permit poll questions on the general election ballot.
“They can squeeze legitimate questions out of consideration by the voters. It’s already happened in this
election.”
Duran emphasized that “we continue to state that if you can provide evidence of any kind that there is
any provision in New Mexico law that authorizes advisory questions, or polls, on a general election
ballot, we would immediately create a ballot that shows such questions.
More news from the Sec. of State’s Office:
SANTA FE—Secretary of State Dianna Duran today expressed “great disappointment” in the New Mexico Supreme Court’s actions yesterday for ordering that the New Mexico general election ballot be “stayed” and not be finalized. The Supreme Court’s order means ballots cannot be mailed to overseas voters.
Despite a federal law* that requires New Mexico to send ballots to soldiers, sailors, airmen and marines not later than Saturday, September 20, the Supreme Court issued an order ignoring the deadline. The New Mexico Supreme Court did not even schedule a hearing on the issue until September 23, three days after the deadline for mailing ballots. (The action also violates New Mexico state law.)
“I believe it is a terrible shame for the New Mexico Supreme Court to ignore federal law and to show disregard for our servicemen and women who are serving throughout the world,” said Duran, “Some of our New Mexico voters are in combat, and all are putting their lives at risk for us.”
Her office pointed out that all this is happening only because a couple of county commissions are insisting on putting poll questions on a statewide ballot—questions that have absolutely no effect, and do not ask to change or enact any law of any kind.
Duran went on to point out that this is at least the fourth consecutive election in which New Mexico state courts have found some reason to delay sending ballots to members of the armed forces. Duran said she found the court’s actions very troubling and dismissive of the role of servicemen and women.
“As the wife of a decorated Vietnam veteran, and daughter of a World War II Purple Heart recipient, I have always made it a priority to ensure that our service members get their opportunity to vote,” said Duran.
Duran also noted that she has asked her legal counsel to file a motion in federal court to take this case out of the hands of the New Mexico Supreme Court. “Equal protection of New Mexico voters is at stake here,” said Duran, “voting is too sacred a right to be handled in this casual way.”
Read more here from FGGAM’s Paul Holt:
