NM - Computer Glitch Blamed for Printing Error That Removed DA Race From Ballots

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Title: Printing Error Removes DA Race From Ballots

Source: Albuquerque Journal Publication date: 2000-04-29

A printing blunder on some Santa Fe County June primary election ballots left off the Democratic Party's district attorney race and had officials scrambling Friday to contact all of the early voters who received them.

"We've called up quite a few and told them," said County Clerk Rebecca "Becky" Bustamante, whose name appears on the primary ballot in the clerk's race.

So far, she said, 32 early voters had the ballots sent to them.

Clerk's Office workers planned to work through the weekend in the hope of contacting all the affected voters, Bustamante said.

"By Monday, we should have this fixed," Bustamante said, adding that she discovered the error Friday after a voter pointed it out to her.

The missing district attorney primary contest is between Angela R. "Spence" Pacheco and incumbent Henry Valdez, both Democrats. No other parties are fielding candidates in the race.

Bustamante blamed the foul-up on "a computer glitch," saying the ballots appeared fine on a pre-printing proof. The problem, Bustamante added, stemmed from a computer program composed by Albuquerque-based Ink Impressions, which is contracted to do the printing.

Terry Rainey, president of Ink Impressions, said he wasn't sure of the extent of the problem, but workers with his company were working to correct the ballots Friday.

"Our guys are working on it right now," Rainey said.

Ballots are printed and mailed out to voters as they apply for them, Rainey said. The government works to have just as many ballots printed as needed to reduce costs and prevent any excess votes from being cast.

Pacheco and Valdez both said they hoped the situation could be straightened out.

"I hadn't heard about it," Pacheco said Friday evening. "I hope the ballots will be corrected and that only the corrected ballots will be accepted at ballot time.

"If it's corrected, it's no problem."

Valdez said he intends to meet with county officials over the issue.

"You want the ballots to be correct," Valdez said. "My understanding is that the Clerk's Office is taking every measure to correct the problem at this time."

The faulty ballots were primarily given to poll workers, Bustamante said, adding she didn't know what the error would cost financially.

Rainey said the county is billed for the number of early ballots printed, which is about 80 cents apiece. A final cost likely will be known when the election is over.

"They told us they weren't going to charge us for the bad ones," Bustamante said.

Bustamante is facing challenges for the clerk position from Lilly L. Gonzales and Jeremy Rodriguez-Ortega.

For information

Questions or concerns about the ballot can be directed to Santa Fe County Clerk Rebecca "Becky" Bustamante, 939-4151

Publication date: 2000-04-29 ) 2000, YellowBrix, Inc.

http://realcities.yellowbrix.com/pages/realcities/Story.nsp?story_id=10269241&site=charlotte&ID=realcities&scategory=Computers%3AY2K

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