Some absentee ballots MIA in NM county
[cnn-photo-caption image= http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2008/images/11/04/art.nmvote1104.ap.jpg caption="Some voters took advantage of early voting in New Mexico."]
(CNN) - Officials in Dona Ana County, New Mexico say they are having problems with absentee ballots. But it's unclear just how many voters may not see their vote count.
Jess Williams, public information officer for the county, said of 11,985 absentee ballots requested, 8,141 have been processed. As of midday Tuesday, the number of outstanding absentee ballots is 3,844.
And the Bureau of Elections is still getting calls from residents who have not yet received their absentee ballots, Williams said. He said those voters may go to the polling place where they are registered to request a provisional ballot and they will be allowed to vote.
While that may be an option for some, many voters vote absentee because health problems keep them from going to the polls. Others are away at college, in the military, or out of town for other reasons, and showing up in person may not be possible.
In order to be counted, absentee ballots must reach the county clerk's Office no later than 7pm local time on election day. Absentee ballots also can be delivered to polling places on election day, but only the voter can deliver it.
Both Democrats and Republicans in the county say they are getting calls from voters who feel they've been left out.
Chris Salas, a spokesman for the county Democratic party, said the party office was getting "tons of calls" from people complaining because they have not gotten ballots. Gen Mitchell, a volunteer at the Dona Ana County Republican party, said "legally they were supposed to have them [absentee ballots] out, and they didn't get them out."
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Months of hand wringing and discussions about how we can't disenfranchise voters – and there are still thousands of complaints from all over the country. Whether it be intentional or incompetence, this election is going to result in lawsuits and bad feelings no matter who wins. Instead of working together to fix problems, people have been pointing fingers, and will continue to do so. Looks to me like we need two new political parties – the current ones are corrupt, incompetent and callous in their actions.
Wow. Shocking. Except not really!
Interesting this stuff seems to only be happening in the toss-up states. VERY interesting.
I hear from a friend who has a friend who knows a cousin of a friend who may know that:
Sarah Palin may have Voted for Obama!
Why is it that in all the battleground states like VA, FL, PA, OH, NM and IN always where the voting problems occur? This is unacceptable. No one should be turned away from voting. Is this not the United States? With crap like this going on...we have no right to say anything about countries like Iraq when it comes to voting.
obama 4 life
problems from voteing machines how convinent thats is . and cnn please stop telling people they will have to wate for ever to vote its simply not the truth i voted in florida today in miami i wated all of ten mins and i was in a big cue . so cnn stop trying to put people of voteing . CNN TELL WOLF BLITZER ONLY A FEW HOURS OF THE GOP IN OFFICE HE AN OTHERS AT CNN NO LONGER NEED TO BE AFRAID OF THE GOP OK . GOOD LUCK SENATOR OBAMA
Gawd! Will it never end? I think the USA might have to bring in some observers from other countries in future to ensure an honest and fair election.
Big Man> Good thing you have the trusty tin foil hat on to keep the gov't from reading your thoughts, too!
Kelvary
If the Republicans want to provide a good America, then why not win the Election within a good manner of fairness?
In the 2000 Presidential Election between Al Gore and George W. Bush, the Republicans stole it for Bush, and that was corrupt. That corruptness continued throughout Bush's entire 8-year term as President. This has to stop, and it begins with Barack Obma of the Democrats.
Canada wants Obama, and America should want Obama if they too want a good America. A good America will result in a revival of that original American Dream, a dream that has been missing since the 90's with President Bill Clinton.
Please America, do not back down on this Election! Make sure your vote counts, and make sure your vote makes an impact with Barack Obama!
Marcus Cyganiak
Vancouver, BC, Canada
If they hadn't received the ballot by now, then they should have contacted someone. They were not steadfast in taking proactive action to secure their right to vote. I find it very difficult to be sympathetic.
it not surprising. something like this will always happen especially in a such big election. i think they do that on purpose and its not fair tp the voters who take the time out to vote.
AHA...The Republican trolls are at work again...Lost??? or stolen?
If there are any problems, act on it, call CNN, or the Election officials promptly!! Make noise about it. Don't be placated by excuses or platitudes!
Make sure YOUR VOTE COUNTS!!!
Obama/ Biden 08/12
America
If the way senator Obama ran his campaign is any indication to the way the country is going to be run; we are on the way to greater and better things to come
AHA...The Republican trolls are at work again...Lost??? or stolen?
If there are any problems, act on it, call CNN, or the Election officials promptly!! Make noise about it. Don't be placated by excuses or platitudes!
Make sure YOUR VOTE COUNTS!!!
Obama/ Biden 08/12
Turner, nice try. I live in Dona Ana County; the demographics are as follows: 49% registered Democrat, 29% Republican, 22% Independant or Other. The County Clerk is a Democrat, as are most of the other local elected officials. Blame incomptetance, not chicanery.
I live in California and go to school away from home, and this was also a problem for me. The voting office told me to come home to where im registered to vote. That is ridiculous and not an option for me. the fact that this is a problem this day and age is disgusting. People need to get their jobs done and done right, and apparently that is not happening. Every citizen of this country has the right to vote. Period. I just hope this doesnt effect the presidency (probably wont in CA), but the propostitions here are what im really worried about. Someone in NM needs to take responsibility for this and correct it. It may be too late now, which is a shame. Step it up, people!
It's disgusting that the Republicans can't win an election without cheating, lying or stealing.
For Turner, GA.......I am sick and tired of DEMOWINERS losing and blaming it on trickery and fraud. I guess when Obama wins this election I should immediately state that since the liberal left media machine went one-sided for Obama that he Republicans didnt have a chance!!!! Stop Wining. I wish more than anything that we had a Republican controlled Congress. Mark my words, with Obama as President and Congress controlled by Democrats we are in for high taxes, bigger deficits, bigger government, and very high unemployement. And yes, that will happen some because of the current crisis, but mostly because of unchecked Democratic rule!!
TO THE DEMOCRATS AND OBAMA/BIDEN FROM YOUR MATES IN THE NEW ZEALAND LABOR PARTY YOUR SISTER PARTY HERE . GOOD LUCK , GOOD LUCK DEMOCRATS AND OBAMA THE ENTIRE FREE WORLD IS GETTING READY TO PARTY AND DANCE IN THE STREETS WHEN OBAMA AND THE DEMOCRATS WIN TODAY . GOOD LUCK FRIENDS . NEW ZEALAND WILL BE SO PROUD OF THEIR FRIENDS IN THE USA TODAY . GOD BLESS YOU AMERICA FROM NEW ZEALAND LABOR PARTY .
Right, the GOP is behind this? What about Black Panthers intimidating voters in Philly? That must be the GOP too!
another swing or battle ground state with problems....funny how they all seem to the ones with issues...another election being stolen>?
My wife and I, registered Democrats, voted absentee in Iowa, partly because we were on a long trip getting back just before the election – and who knows what might delay us (car trouble, accident, health problems – we are "senior citizens"). The ballots arrived the morning we left and we had to fill them out and mail them from Indiana. Well, we are here and we checked at the polling place to see if our ballots were received, and there was no way to do that – we were marked as not being allowed to vote today because we'd requested the ballots. We had to call the Republican county auditor (in a different city) to find out they were received. So I hope they are counted, but I have no way to check that! The chances they are being counted, however, is probably 100%, so I won't worry.
GOOD LUCK DEMOCRATS FROM THE BRITISH LABOUR PARTY
GOD WILLING the media will keep track of all the ODD things happening around our nation!
This SHOULD NOT be happening in the bastion of Democracy!
AMERICA PLEASE DO NOT ALLOW ANOTHER STOLEN ELECTION!