
The Canvassing Board is made up of Gov. Susana Martinez, Secretary of State Brad Winter and Supreme Court Chief Justice Charles Daniels, via the positions they hold.
State-paid recounts are required under state law if the final margin between legislative candidates is less than 1 percent of votes cast in a race.
In the Republican contest for District 32 State Representative – the seat currently held by Dona Irwin – Vicki Chavez holds a 16-vote lead over fellow Luna County resident Scott Chandler, with a total of 1,768 ballots cast in the race.
The District 32 seat encompasses all of Luna County, most of Hidalgo County and one Grant County precinct. The vote recount will be conducted Friday by county clerks in those counties.
Bureau of Elections Director Kari Fresquez said the recount will likely be completed in one day, though the results won’t be certified until the State Canvassing Board meets again next week.
Blair Dunn, the attorney for Chandler, said he’s still seeking more information about exactly how the vote recount will be conducted and the names of voters who cast provisional ballots in the race.
Under state law, paper ballots are generally exempt from the state’s Inspection of Public Records Act until 45 days after a recount.