Judge rejects GOP effort to halt absentee ballot count in Las Cruces mayoral race

LAS CRUCES, New Mexico -- District Judge James Martin on Tuesday afternoon rejected a request for an injunction sought by New Mexico's Republican Party to halt the counting of absentee ballots in Doña Ana County races, including most notably the Las Cruces contest for mayor.

Martin's ruling came one day after GOP officials filed suit against the New Mexico Secretary of State and the Doña Ana County Clerk alleging they failed to follow absentee voting requirements set under a recently adopted state law.

Republicans claimed improper absentee ballots were submitted by some Las Cruces voters that failed to provide names, addresses, and years of birth as required by the law.

The Secretary of State's office had denied the allegations, with a spokesperson saying elections officials had complied with the intent of the law.