New Mexico Republicans are seeking court orders to have the state police impound all paper ballots in what is being called the closest presidential contest in US history.
State Bureau of Elections figures say George W. Bush leads Al Gore by four votes for the state's five electoral votes.
Hundreds of emergency ballots remain uncounted.
"The Democrats (are) just crying their little eyes out about how maybe the state police, in moving these ballots, are going to lose them and the security is not very good and how this will delay the canvassing," state Republican Chair John Dendahl said late Sunday night.
"The Democrats ought to be thanking us for having done the legal work and paid the cost of the impoundment because, as things stand right now, it's their presidential candidate who is going to need a recount," he added.
State Democratic Chair Diane Denish wasn't available for comment.
Gore led Bush by more than 9,500 votes out of more than 600,000 cast, according to the state Bureau of Election immediately after election day.
But as more than 65,000 previously uncounted ballots from the Albuquerque area were added into the totals late last week, Bush closed the gap and went ahead.
The still-uncounted emergency ballots are cast when a voter's eligibility is questioned on election day. They are usually counted during the canvassing a week after an election, if eligibility is confirmed.
State police spokeswoman Royleen Ross-Weaver said Sunday that ballots from seven New Mexico county clerks were impounded over the weekend without incident.
Mickey Barnett, an Albuquerque attorney and former Republican state senator, said he expects to have court orders for ballot impoundments in the other 26 counties by Monday.
"It's a routine thing in close elections," he said. "It's just a precaution" -- SANTA FE (AFP)
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