Section 3-8-66 - Contest of elections; order of impoundment; subsequent orders; access; termination of order; disposition of deposit.
3-8-66. Contest of elections; order of impoundment; subsequent orders; access; termination of order; disposition of deposit.
A. The court order of impoundment shall specify the items of ballots to be impounded and may direct the state police to:
(1) take immediate physical custody of any items ordered impounded and not in use in the precinct in the conduct of the election;
(2) take legal custody of items ordered impounded and being used in the conduct of the election by assigning an officer to be physically present in the polling place until the polling place is closed and the results have been tallied and certified as required by the Municipal Election Code [Chapter 3, Articles 8 and 9 NMSA 1978];
(3) take physical custody of items ordered impounded and being used in the conduct of the election as soon as the polling place is closed and the results in the precinct have been tallied and certified as required by the Municipal Election Code; and
(4) deliver all items ordered impounded and taken into physical custody to the district court clerk of the court entering the order for safekeeping subject to further orders of the court.
B. The party petitioning the court for the original order of impoundment may by motion to the court request an order allowing the party or his attorney access to and inspection of any items impounded. The court shall enter its order allowing access and inspection under conditions set by the court that will assure adequate safeguarding of the impounded items. The order shall, if requested by the petitioner, allow for the copying or reproduction of any items by and at the expense of the petitioner.
C. Ten days from the date of the original order of impoundment or, if an order granting access and inspection has been entered, ten days after that order, the order of impoundment shall automatically terminate unless the court extends the time for good cause shown. The court shall in all cases order the impoundment of ballots terminated no later than thirty days after the entry of the original order of impoundment.
D. Upon the termination of an impoundment of ballots the items impounded shall be delivered by the district court clerk to the person that would have been entitled to the possession of the items under the Municipal Election Code if there had been no impoundment.
E. If the petitioner shall successfully prosecute an election contest or recount proceeding that results in a change in the petitioner's favor the court shall refund to the petitioner the deposit required under Section 3-8-65 NMSA 1978 less any amount expended for guarding and preserving the impounded ballots. In all other cases there shall be no refund. Any amounts not refunded shall be transmitted to the municipal treasurer for credit to the municipal general fund.