Bomb threat briefly disrupts early voting in Las Cruces

Early voting and all other business at the Doña Ana County Government Center in Las Cruces was interrupted Thursday as law enforcement investigated a bomb threat. The County Clerk’s Office detailed the incident in a news release assuring voters the building was safe and election administration was secure.

The threat was reported at about noon, and the building evacuated; but a sweep of the building detected no explosive devices, and law enforcement issued an all clear to resume operations. Doña Ana County Sheriff’s deputies said they were investigating the threat.

Early voting opened Oct. 7 at the government building, and voters present Thursday were directed to complete their ballots and leave the building, the County Clerk’s Office said, adding that the threat was reportedly not directed at the elections.

Election officials proceeded with rehearsed protocols to clear the polling place and secure the tabulating machines into which completed ballots are inserted by voters.

“All ballots are already secured in the locked ballot box underneath the tabulator,” Cynthia Mendoza, a spokesperson for County Clerk Amanda López Askin, told the Journal. “If the election officials can do so safely, they are trained to unplug the tabulators and take them out with them during an evacuation. The Presiding Judge remains in custody of the keys and … of the tabulators. There are always at least three election officials in the presence of the locked tabulators at all times ensuring that they remain closed.”

The tabulators were removed to a secure location with sworn election officials maintaining proper chain-of-custody for the ballots, she said.

“The safety of voters, election officials, and staff is always our top priority,” López Askin stated in a news release. “I’m incredibly proud of our team and our law enforcement partners for their calm, professional response and quick action to ensure everyone’s safety while maintaining the integrity of the election process.”

Early voting resumed after the all-clear was announced. The announcement was posted on the county’s Facebook page at 1:16 p.m. The clerk’s office publicized the response in order to assure the public of “the safety and security of all voting locations.”

As of Friday morning, Mendoza said 875 people had cast their ballots in person while 6,362 absentee ballots had been mailed to voters who had requested them, including those on the permanent absentee list.

Extended early voting begins Saturday at eight locations across Doña Ana County.