Posted on 12/13/2004 11:54:37 AM PST by West Coast Conservative
The Ohio delegation to the Electoral College cast its votes for President Bush on Monday, hours after dissident groups asked the state Supreme Court to review the outcome of the state's presidential race.
The 20 GOP electors voted unanimously for Bush and Vice President Dick Cheney.
"The vast majority of people understand this election is over," said Gov. Bob Taft, who was at the electors' voting session in the state Senate chamber.
The challengers who went to the Supreme Court question whether Bush won the key swing state by 119,000 votes, guaranteeing his victory over Democrat John Kerry.
The court did not act on their request before the electors cast their ballots.
The Rev. Jesse Jackson and attorney Cliff Arnebeck of the Massachusetts-based Alliance for Democracy accused President Bush's campaign of "high-tech vote stealing."
Jackson said the challengers noticed Bush generally received more votes in counties that use optical-scan voting machines and questioned whether the machines were calibrated to record votes for Bush.
The dissidents claim there were disparities in vote totals for Democrats, too few voting machines in Democrat-leaning precincts, organized campaigns directing voters to the wrong polling place and confusion over the counting of provisional ballots by voters whose names did not appear in the records at polling places.
If the court decides to hear the challenge, it can declare a new winner or throw out the results.
"While the existence of anomalies could possibly be explained by human error or technical malfunctions, the fact that, in every case in Ohio known to the contestors, the error favored the Bush-Cheney ticket, strongly indicates manipulation or fraud," the challengers said in a court filing.
Protesters had been expected to demonstrate outside the Capitol during the Electoral College vote, but none was present.
Congressional Democrats sent a letter to the governor on Monday, asking him to delay the electoral vote or at least consider the results unofficial until the disputes are resolved.
"The vote is required to move forward by law, and it will more forward," said Taft spokesman Orest Holubec. "The vote has been certified by the secretary of state, and all of the valid provisionals have been counted."
Carlo LoParo, spokesman for Secretary of State Kenneth Blackwell, said that for the challengers' accusations to be true, he said, officials of both parties would have had to conspire to throw the election.
"That's simply a ridiculous assertion," he said.
Led by a coalition representing the Green and Libertarian parties, the dissidents are paying for recounts in each of Ohio's 88 counties that will begin this week. The recounts are not expected to be complete until next week.
Kerry issued a statement last week saying reports of voting problems should be investigated to ensure there are no doubts in future elections. His campaign does not dispute that Bush won the election, but supports the recounts.
WOW, unanimous!
What's happening over in DUmmy land?
For some, she will never sing. But I'm glad this is proceeding as it should.
I still think the Republicans should NEVER let their guard down, because even after the inauguration I wouldn't be surprised if some Democrats didn't keep some accuasations simmering, just to cripple the President.
Then again, that might backfore on the Dems too, like everything else seems to . . . :)
Somebody send this to the DUMbasses...along with some rusty razor blades.
'dissident groups?' Can't we just be honest and call them looney lib moonbats..
My only question is, how did they find out? Whoever is leaking this stuff to them ought to get a beating.
My fault.. I like to tease the DU.. However it does not take much to tease them.. /sarcasm
There will be NO joy in DUmmieville tonight.
With a little help from Karl Rove of course. MUWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH!
The all powerful Karl Rove...
Love this line - isn't it soooooooo Kerry-ish? And he thought he could lead the most powerful country in the world.....sigh.
That campaign was run by Moveon.org to misdirect Bush voters away from the proper polling places. Physician heal thyself.
Give me a break. Carrie Spencer, are you really that dumb?
Sure thing, sunshine! Oh, by the way, the disputes have already been resolved.
that should read more like: "Hypocrite scr*w yourself".
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.