NM Supreme Court orders Otero County Commission to certify election results (Commission has concern over Dominion vote counting machines)

The Albuquerque Journal ^ | June 15, 2022 | Dan Boyd

[CedarDave]

SANTA FE – The New Mexico Supreme Court on Wednesday ordered Otero County commissioners to certify primary election results by the end of this week, raising the stakes of a dispute over election integrity issues that has generated national attention.

The ruling by the state’s highest court came one day after Secretary of State Maggie Toulouse Oliver filed a petition, arguing the county commission’s refusal to approve the June 7 election results violates state election law and could nullify votes.

The three-member Otero County Commission, in its role as a county canvassing board, voted unanimously Monday against certifying the primary election results, with commissioners raising concerns over Dominion vote-counting machines used by the state. Secretary of State Maggie Toulouse Oliver

But top state election officials have described the concerns as unfounded conspiracy theories, while also accusing the all-Republican county commission of flouting its responsibility.

Mario Jimenez, campaign director for Common Cause New Mexico, said the county commission’s refusal to approve election results is not based on any evidence, but rather on personal bias and conjecture.

“We cannot stand by as we watch dangerous misinformation spread, risking not only the voices of Otero County voters, but something larger,” Jimenez said Wednesday. “If allowed to stand, these actions may embolden other counties around the country and here in New Mexico, to use this same national playbook to disenfranchise the will of the people.”

While Otero County commissioners have not voted to certify the primary election results, they instead voted last week to recount ballots by hand, remove state-mandated ballot drop boxes that facilitate absentee voting and discontinue the use of Dominion vote-tabulation machines in the general election.

[CedarDave]

All three branches of NM government are controlled by Dems with both the executive and legislative branches in the hands of radicals who want NM to emulate California's "progressive" ways. They gerrymandered the three US Congressional districts this past winter to give Dems a majority in all three. Here in conservative SE New Mexico four miles from the Texas border, we are now in the same district as far-left Santa Fe and those northern NM residents adjacent to the Arizona and Colorado borders.

[CedarDave]

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[MercyFlush]

What’s the point of the commission if their approval is nothing more than a rubber stamp?

[cranked]

We seriously, SERIOUSLY need to adopt the French/France’s system of voting......

[Principled]

What if they just don’t certify?

[jacknhoo]

Don’t certify the results.

[ridesthemiles]

Good question.

IF the Court does the certification by itself-—can THEY be held responsible for fraud????

[A Navy Vet]

And the hits just keep on coming.

[Dr. Franklin]

What’s the point of the commission if their approval is nothing more than a rubber stamp?

Apparently, the county commission has been ordered to certify the election by Friday. What exactly must they certify? Perhaps they should just certify that the election was conducted improperly and the winner cannot be determined consequently.

[CedarDave]

What if they just don’t certify?

From the article:

If the Otero County commission refuses to follow the Supreme Court order, county commissioners could potentially face legal repercussions. Those consequences could include financial penalties or being removed from office, said Daniel Ivey-Soto, a state senator and former executive director of the New Mexico county clerks affiliate.

From another article regarding Daniel Ivey-Soto :

According to election integrity expert David Clements, New Mexico’s Dominion machine software is out of compliance with state statute, therefore triggering his call for county commissions not to approve the June 7, 2022, Primary Election results. Ivey-Soto refutes that in his email to commissioners, claiming they are certified.

Clements wrote regarding Ivey-Soto on Facebook, “According to an Ethics Complaint, Dominion’s favorite NM legislator, Senator Daniel Ivey-Soto, is the Executive Director of Vandelay Solutions, which provides ‘professional services’ in the administration of elections. His company entered into two contracts with Dona Ana County, for ‘Consulting Services’ and ‘Technical Assistance’ between September 2019 and June 2021 for $37,500 and $45,000. How is this not a conflict of interest?” Clements has branded Ivey-Soto as “Dominion’s favorite legislator” and noted his connections are a “conflict of interest.”

SOS Toulouse Oliver sues Otero County, threatens criminal referral to AG

[Gnome1949]

The NM Supreme Court has no authority over the county election commissions. The whole point of these commissions is INDEPENDENCE to supervise elections.

There is no legal basis for this court to intervene. This is an unlawful usurpation of power without authority.

[BiglyCommentary]

“four miles from the Texas border,”

Well then it’s a short move. I’ll donate $25 towards the moving truck. :)

[Principled]

Thanks CedarDave - i’m looking to see if anyone else CAN certify.

If they don’t certify it seems there will be no certification.

[CedarDave]

Here's another tidbit from the Journal article:

Meanwhile, one of the three members of the Otero County commission is Cowboys for Trump co-founder Couy Griffin, who was convicted in January of illegally entering restricted U.S. Capitol grounds on Jan. 6, 2021, but acquitted of a separate charge of disorderly and disruptive conduct.

Griffin, who has argued he led others in prayer at the Capitol, is scheduled for sentencing Friday.

The Commission is seriously conservative.

[Tupelo]

I think it will be very interesting to see how long the three-member Otero County Commission can hold out against the full weight & power of the state. My guess is, less than a week until the weakest commissioner gets wobbly and once one yields, the other two will go down quickly.
I also wonder, if the state can ‘fire’ the
three incumbent commissioners and appoint new ones that are “on the Team”.

[CedarDave]

If they don’t certify it seems there will be no certification.

The way I view it, is that there is unlikely any problem with these election results, but that this is a broadside to let Santa Fe know that the November general election will be watched closely for fraud, especially with ballot drop boxes and ballot counting by Dominion machines (which were probably hacked on purpose in 2020 if not in New Mexico but elsewhere).

[Boogieman]

“ordered Otero County commissioners to certify”

A certification is meaningless if an official can be ordered to certify something against their will. I’d resign in protest before doing it.

[Boogieman]

The court can’t certify the results itself, it doesn’t have that authority.

[Boogieman]

“Dominion’s favorite NM legislator, Senator Daniel Ivey-Soto, is the Executive Director of Vandelay Solutions, which provides ‘professional services’ in the administration of elections.”

Really? He was so blatant as to name his fake election consulting company after George Costanza’s fake company from “Seinfeld”?

[cableguymn]

“I hereby certify these results are bunk, garbage, tampered with”

“thus I am calling for a new election, on paper ballots with serial numbers, ID verification and other measures to make sure the voter is a legal voter”