Cost of Recount $1.4 Million; State Wants Money by Thurs. To Start

By Andy Lenderman
Journal Politics Writer
    SANTA FE? For $1.4 million, two presidential candidates and some voting rights advocates may get a statewide recount of New Mexico's recent presidential election.
    Or the matter may be decided in court.
    The state Canvassing Board on Tuesday, after some deliberation, granted a late November request for a recount by presidential candidates David Cobb of the Green Party and Michael Badnarik, a Libertarian.
    Recount backers say their goal is to verify the accuracy and credibility of New Mexico's voting systems. They have raised concerns about touch screen voting machines and the so-called undervote.
    But according to state election officials, recount proponents will have to come up with $1.4 million by 10 a.m. Thursday in order to proceed.
    "I am requiring that much money because the taxpayers are not responsible for footing this bill," Secretary of State Rebecca Vigil-Giron said.
    The state Canvassing Board, which certifies election results, is made up of three top officials? Gov. Bill Richardson, state Supreme Court Chief Justice Petra Maes and Vigil-Giron.
    But an attorney for Cobb and Badnarik said proponents for the recount have already satisfied the deposit requirement by giving Vigil-Giron's office a down payment of more than $114,000.
    "They made the required deposit," said attorney John Boyd of Albuquerque. "The law requires the state Canvassing Board to allow a re-check."
    Boyd said his group plans to be in state District Court in Santa Fe at 8:30 a.m. today to argue that the recount should begin immediately.
    And if they're unsuccessful in that hearing before state District Judge Carol Vigil, Boyd said there would be a "presumably" quick appeal.
    Before agreeing to the conditional request, Richardson talked about ways to make the state Election Code better.
    "I don't think a recount will reform our election laws. We don't need any more lawsuits. We need to move forward," Richardson said.
    Vigil-Giron at first moved to deny the recount request, but later withdrew the motion and then moved to approve the application.
    The recount is being paid for by three groups, said Holly Jacobson, a spokeswoman for the Help America Recount Fund. They are the Cobb campaign, the Badnarik campaign and the Help America Recount Fund, which is a 527 political group.
    In other business, the board also approved a recount application by Democratic state Senate candidate Robert Frost.
    Frost lost the District 7 state Senate race by 36 votes to incumbent Clint Harden Jr., a Republican.