Clerk dragged to court after ignoring state's cease-and-desist over poll watchers

A New Mexico civic group intending to observe the upcoming general election on Oct. 16 sued Santa Fe County Clerk Katharine Clark alleging she violated state law by denying recognized election watchers access to polling places unless they attended additional training.Land of Action, which describes itself as a nonpartisan civic association and hub for numerous progressive groups throughout the state, requested among other remedies that the First Judicial District Court require Clark to admit its election watchers. A hearing was slated for Tuesday afternoon in First Judicial District Judge T. Glenn Ellington’s courtroom.New Mexico law permits properly designated individuals to serve as challengers, observers and watchers during early voting and on Election Day. Political parties appoint challengers, while observers often come from academic or human rights fields. Groups qualified by the Secretary of State appoint watchers to monitor polling locations. All three must complete a training session provided by the...