El Paso elections administrator says it’s impossible for only 1 mayoral candidate to appear on ballot

Some local media outlets have been reporting problems at voting booths during this first week of early voting for the June 15 runoff elections.

The newspaper El Diario and another TV station have reported a few voters’ claims they went to cast ballots for mayor, but only had the choice of one candidate.

One man told the newspaper only Steve Ortega’s name popped up on the screen. Oscar Leeser’s Facebook campaign page was asking for voters who had trouble to contact them.

County Elections Administrator Javier Chacon told ABC-7 the scenario mentioned in the article is impossible.

Chacon said there’s no way only one candidate’s name could ever appear on the screen by itself – period.

A man who says he’s a voter was quoted in Wednesday’s edition of El Diario, saying “my concern is that there is some sort of manipulation in the machines on the part of the government.”

But Chacon said the actions that have been alleged are impossible but just in case, he had the machine the man used removed and replaced with a different machine.

ABC-7 called the Leeser campaign Wednesday afternoon and was told they met with Chacon Wednesday morning. The Leeser campaign worker ABC-7 spoke with earlier says he feels Chacon is managing the concerns well.

Late Thursday, City Rep. Emma Acosta posted on her Facebook page that she had been told of a similar election problem affecting someone else.

“I had a community meeting today (Thursday) and a constituent was telling me she had to go back three times to cast her vote for Oscar Leeser because when she reviewed her ballot, It showed her vote was for Steve Ortega. It’s difficult to believe but it is happening! Please verify your votes before casting your final vote!!” the Facebook post read.