I am writing today to announce the closure of the New Mexico Independent. After three and a half years of operation in New Mexico, the board of the American Independent News Network, has decided to shift publication of its news…
While environmental activists played their part yesterday during demonstrations at the capitol building, going so far as to dress up as solar panels and to sing the tune of “You Are My Sunshine,” their counterparts, the anti-cap-and-trade contingency who has…
Roughly one quarter of University of New Mexico students are unimpressed with the state’s flagship public school, according to a survey that questioned college students about their higher education experiences.
Disruptive Republican poll challengers at six precincts in Doña Ana County have been “reprimanded” and warned that they will be removed from polling precincts if they continue to behave inappropriately, Doña Ana County Deputy Clerk Mario O. Jimenez III told The Independent at 1 p.m. Tuesday.
“There have been incidents at six precincts,” Jimenez said. “At three locations, gentlemen were trying to handle voters’ ballots. At one, he was hovering by the scanner machine and took ballots, and then he — the challenger — placed ballots into the scanner for the voters. …At one location, Tom Baugh Elementary, a challenger was attempting to assist voters. Challengers are not allowed to act as poll workers like that.”
At other precincts, poll challenger repeatedly demanded that poll workers require photo identification from voters, Jimenez said.
“They were disruptive and extremely rude,” Jimenez said. “They told poll workers that they had to take ID from voters.”
“We called the Republican Party (vice) chairman Mark Vandyke and warned them,” Jimenez said. “We said if it happens again, we’ll remove the challengers involved.”
Doña Ana County Republican Party officials did not immediately return The Independent’s phone call for comment. N.M. Republican Party officials referred The Independent to the Doña Ana County Republican Party.
“It’s been relatively smooth otherwise,” Jimenez said. “I hope it stays that way.”
