By Kevin Hendricks, The Paper. — Sandoval County election workers found methamphetamine and fentanyl on multiple absentee ballots Friday morning. County officials say no one was exposed, and every affected vote will still count.
Initial tests flagged the drugs in election mail at the county’s Bureau of Elections warehouse, County Clerk Anne Brady-Romero reported. Local, state and federal authorities responded to the scene.
“No county employees or poll workers were exposed,” Brady-Romero said.
Investigators are working to determine how much of the substance arrived and confirm exactly what it is, according to the county. State and federal officials will help analyze the material to protect election workers.
A clerk’s office representative and a sheriff’s deputy will maintain a chain of custody on the affected ballots to make sure each one gets counted, the county said.
The warehouse continues to operate without interruption. Voters can still mail absentee ballots, deliver them to a polling location or use the county’s secure drop boxes. Election Day is Nov. 3.
Vote safely in Sandoval County:
- Sandoval County Clerk: sandovalcountynm.gov
- Track your absentee ballot: voterportal.servis.sos.state.nm.us