South Dakota Voters Can Request A Recount For Thune!

South Dakota, Secretary of State ^ | self

[zencycler]

I was reading through the South Dakota Secretary of State website for information about contest between Thune and Johnson, and I came across this gem, when researching the types of recounts and who can request them. (Code Section 12-21-8.
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12-21-8. Precinct recount on petition by voters of precinct. When within ten days after an election any three registered voters of a precinct file with the officer in charge of the election a petition, duly verified by them, setting forth that they believe that the official returns from such precinct as to a specified candidate or as to a specified referred or submitted question are erroneous, the votes of such precinct as to the office or position specified or as to the question specified shall be recounted.

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More information here: http://www.state.sd.us/sos/recounts.htm

Precinct Recount

Purpose:
Used to recount the results from a specific precinct for a specific candidate or question in a primary or general election.

Deadline:
Within ten days after the election. Any three registered voters in the precinct.

[zencycler]

So the way I see it, Any 3 Republican voters from each precinct can petition the SOS to have a recount of that precinct within 10 days of the election.

Is anyone doing anything about this? There isn't much time left.

[SamAdams76]

A recount may not be the best way to go about this if there is voter fraud involved. We will just end up re-counting the fraudulent ballots and sealing Thune's defeat.

I am hoping that Thune and the Republicans mount a legal challenge to the election based on voter fraud that is being uncovered there as we speak. Some 30 FBI agents are on the case according to other articles I have read.

[F-117A]

One thing the puzzles me, is that in Shannon county (Pine Ridge) many of the ballots were filled out with pencils rather than the black ink pens provided at the polling sites?

How many people carry a pencil with them?

[concerned about politics]

Is there a way to ping those in SD? This would be easy! They can call into local radio stations,too. Maybe other Republicans will join.

BUMP

[ewing]

Good work, let's roll!

[goldstategop]

How many ballots were actually cast in Shannon County RELATIVE to actual voter turnout? If there's fraud, you're likely to find it in a county that went 90-10 for Tim Johnson.

[Reb Raider]

I am in total agreement with you. A recount won't do anything but recount illegal ballots. I am hoping the lack of news on this situation is good news...progress being made by investigators and some of those involved implicating those who orchestrated this fraud.

[SwinneySwitch]

Can you find 3 voters in the reservation precincts, who will ask for a recount? That's probably where the errors are.

[deport]

A ballot recount is just that; a second counting of the ballots. It does not address possible legal deficiencies in the conduct of an election. These would be dealt with in an election contest.

I suspect the Thune campaign has this under control should they choose to exercise the recount or contest.

[SamAdams76]

I have been puzzled by the Republican's silence on this race. I can only hope that there is a lot going on behind the scenes that we do not know about. If so, I can understand why Bush, Rove and the rest of the Republicans are tight-lipped about it. Why tip your hand?

[zencycler]

A recount won't do anything but recount illegal ballots

I disagree. It's possible that the vote fraud that occurred was not only done by the creation of the illegal ballots, but by the misreporting of the results in the obscure counties controlled by Dems. If so, a supervised recount would detect this.

I've read on other threads that the only reason Thune doesn't request a recount is that, under the law, Thune himself cannot both request a recount AND contest the election on the basis of fraud. However, if the voters themselves used this law to ask for a recount in targeted districts, this would NOT preclude Thune from contesting the election.

So it couldn't hurt, and it might help.

[zencycler]

See post # 11, above.

[MeekOneGOP]

A recount will simply recount the fraudulent votes with non-fraudulent votes. If there's a way to rememdy the fraud and install the true winner, I'm for it. I have a feeling that the 'RATS, who have played this game for so long, are going to get away with another one once again. "Hope I'm wrong...."

[zencycler]

Hi MeeknMing:

Please read my reply #11, and tell me if it changes your mind.

[MeekOneGOP]

So it couldn't hurt, and it might help.

Ah ! I see your point now. Thanks....

:O)

[MeekOneGOP]

heh heh ! Our notes crossed in the mail at the same time.....

[Auntie Mame]

Do it! Do it in your precinct. Get others to do it in theirs. What can it hurt? So what if they just count ballots, fraudulent or not? At least "they" will know that citizens are aware of something fishy going on. Wish you could get three in the Indian precincts to do the same.

Someone's got to do something! Let it start with you.

[The UnVeiled Lady]

How many people carry a pencil with them?

Only the people who do crossword puzzles! LOL

[deport]

My point is don't you think that the Thune campaign will do what they deem correct and not depend upon some web site to institute any proceedings for him. I'm sure they can get three ppl to file in each precinct if they choose to go that route. But my guess is they are weighting all options and will take appropriate actions.

12-22-26. Notice of intention to institute legislative contest -- Time for service -- Answer. Any person who intends to contest the election of any person to either branch of the Legislature may within ten days after the official canvass of the votes, or within five days after final determination of a recount, if a recount has been had, give written notice to such other person of such contest, specifying the grounds of such contest. The person on whom such notice is served may within ten days after such service, serve on the person giving such notice an answer, admitting or denying the grounds alleged, and shall be deemed to admit any grounds not denied.

Maybe there is something that procludes Thune from doing both but it's not spelled out in the "Contest Provisions" that I find.

[zencycler]

Yup, I noticed that too (mail crossing). Anyway, do you happen to know any SD Freepers you can PING, or BUMP, or whatever it is that you do.