9-27-2023 11:51pm

Otero Elections Officials Certify Election Machines with Transparency

Chris Edwards Editor

Otero County New Mexico County Clerk Robyn Holmes, like clerks across the state have conducted the legally required recertification of the machines and tabulators to be used in the upcoming municipal elections. The event of certification is transparent and open to the public.

Otero County elections have been plagued with political gamesmanship by extremist but through the scrutiny and the games, Clerk Robyn Holmes has kept a cool head and time and again proven there are no integrity issues in Otero County New Mexico. From recounts to hecklers she had proven a tactician that is well aware of the laws and how to execute clean fair and accurate elections.

This past week in compliance with state law tabulators and voting machines were tested and certified for early voting. The public and elected officials were invited. Amy Barela and her husband the Republican Party Chairman should up and observed for a little while. So did citizen activist Joy Bordenave how provided AlamogordoTownNews.com a statement.

”I was there today. There were four clerks office professionals doing the testing on the machines. There is a process for certifying each machine. The public is invited to attend. Mr Rich Kestner and I have done this before. We were there from start to finish. Amy Barella and her husband showed up a bit after 1:00 and stayed about 10-15 minutes. Shannon Wright showed up around 3:00 and stayed about 20-25 minutes. Selena Mayes, one of the County Clerks is seen in photos provided. Mr Kestner is the gentleman in one of them. Selena explained to both of them about how the process works. Only the machines to be used for Early Voting, absentee, etc we’re done today. As you can see in the County Clerk announcement, Election Day tabulators will be certified on 18-19 October.”

June of 2022 Otero County was faced with a situation where county commissioners were not going to certify the election results reported by Ms Holmes. This resulted in a court order to certify. Clerk Robyn Holmes is a 4th term Republican election administrator. During the controversy she told AlamogordoTownNews.com reporters, “the machine tallies at the 16 voting centers matched the number of ballots handed out and there machines that performed without errors nor external interference.

As the municipal elections and school board elections approach the Clerks office is ready and in full compliance with the law with full transparency and citizen involvement. Otero County voters can have confidence in the election process regardless of political gamesmanship played. Election integrity and transparency is alive and well under Robyn Holmes watch in Otero County, New Mexico.