Section 3-8-46 - Conduct of elections; closing polls; locking voting machines; opening voting machines; verification of votes; admittance of watchers and candidates; proclamation of results; completio - New Mexico Statutes

3-8-46. Conduct of elections; closing polls; locking voting machines; opening voting machines; verification of votes; admittance of watchers and candidates; proclamation of results; completion of locking; duration of locking and sealing.

A.     When the last person has voted, the precinct board, in the presence of all persons lawfully permitted to be present, shall immediately lock and, if required by the county clerk, seal the voting machine against further voting.  The precinct board shall release the machine-printed returns from the machine.  The precinct board shall then sign a certificate stating that the machine was locked; giving the exact time; stating the number of voters shown on the public counters, which shall be the total number of votes cast on the machine in that precinct; stating the number on the seal; and stating the number registered on the protective counter.

B.     The precinct board shall verify that the counter settings registered on the machine-printed returns are legible.  The machine-printed returns shall show the number of votes cast for each candidate and the number of votes cast for and against any other question submitted, and the return shall be signed by each member of the precinct board and the challengers and watchers, if there be such.

C.     If the machine-printed returns are not legible, or if the precinct officials are unable to obtain the returns from the voting machine, the precinct officials shall call the municipal clerk, who shall immediately contact the county clerk, who shall dispatch a voting machine technician to that polling place to help the precinct officials obtain the returns from the voting machine.

D.     A write-in vote shall be cast by writing in the name of a declared write-in candidate on the ballot or, on voting machines, write-ins shall be written in the slot provided for each designated office.  A write-in vote shall be counted and canvassed only if:

(1)     the name written in is the name of a declared write-in candidate and shows two initials and last name; first name, middle initial or name and last name; first and last name; or the full name as it appears on the declaration of write-in candidacy of the declared write-in candidate and misspellings of the above combinations that can be reasonably determined by a majority of the members of the precinct board to identify the declared write-in candidate;

(2)     the name is written in the proper slot on the voting machine or on the proper line for write-in votes provided on an absentee ballot or paper ballot used in lieu of voting machines;

(3)     the name written in is not a vote for a person who is on the ballot for that office; and

(4)     the name written in is not imprinted by rubber stamp or similar device or by the use of preprinted stickers or labels.  

E.     Only the members of the precinct board, candidates or their representatives, representatives of the news media, certified challengers, watchers and observers and the municipal clerk may be present while the votes are being counted and tallied.  Only members of the precinct board shall handle ballots, machine-printed returns and signature rosters or take part in the counting and tallying.

F.     The proclamation of the results of the votes cast shall be distinctly announced by an election judge who shall read the name of each candidate and the total number of votes cast for each candidate shown on the printed returns.  An election judge shall also read the total number of votes cast for and against each question submitted.  During the proclamation, ample opportunity shall be given to any person lawfully present to compare the result so proclaimed with the printed returns.  The precinct board may make corrections then and there.

G.     When the precinct board is satisfied that the election results have been correctly tallied, an election judge shall complete a separate election return certificate in triplicate on which is recorded the total number of votes cast in that polling place for each candidate and for and against each question.  The certificate shall be signed by all the members of the precinct board.  One copy shall be posted at the door of the polling place, one copy mailed to the district court in the envelope provided and the original returned to the municipal clerk in the envelope provided.

H.     Before adjourning, the precinct board shall complete the locking procedures on the voting machine.

I.     On the voting machine, the machine return sheet is the official vote tally for that machine and the separate election return certificate is the official vote tally for that precinct or consolidated precinct.

J.     If in the district court's opinion a contest is likely to develop, the court may order a voting machine to remain locked and sealed for such time as it deems necessary.

K.     The county clerk shall break the seal for purposes of lawful investigation when ordered to do so by a court of competent jurisdiction.  When the investigation is completed, the voting machine shall again be sealed and across the envelope containing the keys shall be written the signature of the county clerk, unless other provisions for the use of the voting machine are ordered by the court.