Las Cruces, New Mexico— Attorneys for the campaign of Rep. Mary Helen Garcia have formally a filed a motion challenging the results in the June Primary Election.
Specifically, the attorneys cite irregularities in the signatures associated with absentee voting in the primary election for New Mexico House District 34.
"As Chairwoman of the New Mexico House Voters and Elections Committee, I have long advocated for transparent, ethical, open elections, in which protection of the voter’s rights and the sanctity of his or her vote are of the utmost importance. Voters should feel free from coercion and manipulation when casting their ballots. I would hope my opponent would refrain from misleading the public by questioning this process provided through the laws governing elections in the state of New Mexico,” Rep. Garcia said. “The fact that Sunland Park has been marred by election fraud in the past, most recently in the 2013 municipal elections, and that the fact that similarities exist in this election, is more than a coincidence. I have complete trust in our legal process and the election review and assessment processes. Many times results have shifted, resulting in the initial result being overturned, and based on the facts, my team has compiled; I believe that this will happen in this race. This is a case that all New Mexicans should be concerned with.”
Attorneys for Rep. Garcia submitted information by a forensic handwriting analyst, citing at least 17 cases of signatures not matching voter rolls.
Third Judicial District Judge Jim T. Martin set August 12 as the trial date for the clection challenge.
Last week, Rep. Garcia requested a recount of the results of the June 3 primary. A hearing for the recount took place Tuesday, where her attorneys filed a motion to challenge the entire election, rather than move forward with a recount.