In a significant development, Ali Ennenga, the Republican candidate for New Mexico House District 44, has lodged a formal complaint in district court, questioning the integrity of the recent election results.
The Rio Ranch Observer reported that Ennenga cites concerns about discrepancies and errors, calling for a thorough hand recount of ballots cast in Sandoval and Bernalillo counties.
The legal action commenced on December 17, when Ennenga filed the election contest complaint with the 13th Judicial District Court. Her legal battle is directed at Kathleen Cates, the Democrat who currently holds the seat and was declared the winner of the election.
Ennenga's complaint targets what she perceives as election misconduct, with a particular emphasis on issues related to same-day registration voters.
Ennenga specified multiple alleged irregularities in her complaint, especially highlighting discrepancies in Sandoval County. She pointed out a notable mismatch between the number of total voters and the total votes cast. Supporting her claims, evidence was provided that underscores the mistakes admitted by Deputy County Clerk Joey Dominguez during an election canvas on November 16.
Dominguez acknowledged several procedural mistakes, including the incorrect handling of a tabulator's memory card, improper deployment of seals on tabulation equipment, and the disqualification of some provisional ballots.
Specifically, 316 ballots were rendered invalid due to issues like incomplete voter registration or other ballot problems. Moreover, 149 provisional ballots were also mishandled outside of standard protocols.
The errors outlined further involved breaches in the chain of custody. Dominguez's instructions, which were later identified as erroneous, led to these breaches for 149 ballots, causing concern among election officials. In response to these issues, all the voters affected were notified and given the chance to re-cast their votes where necessary.
Despite these complications, the State Canvas Board went on to certify the election outcomes at the close of November.
According to official figures, Kathleen Cates secured 9,166 votes compared to Ennenga’s 8,158, establishing a clear lead in the race. However, Ennenga has raised a discrepancy claim involving 463 votes in Sandoval County alone.
State Secretary Maggie Toulouse Oliver expressed confidence in both the process and outcome of the election. She reiterated the administrative efficiency and integrity with which the 2024 general election was conducted, aiming to reassure all New Mexico residents of their election system’s reliability.
Ennenga, on the other hand, has voiced her dissatisfaction and skepticism, citing differences in reports given by Dominguez for initial certification and during a subsequent county commission meeting. Taking her challenge further, Ennenga has filed motions seeking the impoundment of ballots and has requested a formal court hearing to delve into these concerns.
Representing herself, Ennenga's pursuit of legal recourse against the electoral results has added a personal element to the proceedings.
Following her request, the presiding judge initially assigned to the case was excused, and a new judge has now taken over the case. This procedural adjustment comes as Ennenga continues to press for an accountable and transparent examination of the election process.
In a statement, Ennenga articulated her rationale for moving forward with legal action. She highlighted the inconsistency in the numbers, pointing to the ambiguity surrounding same-day registration and changes to provisional ballot figures after the canvass.
“There are too many unanswered questions,” she stated, underscoring her demand for transparency and the insistence on a hand recount.
The election contest filed by Ennenga underscores the broader challenges and discussions around election integrity, voter registration processes, and the administrative competence of election officials.
Her actions signify a persistent quest for clarity and correctness, as she continues to question and verify the procedural integrity of what she describes as a flawed election process in her district.
