Posted on 12/15/2004 5:59:22 AM PST by Tumbleweed_Connection
The discovery late Monday of 561 votes in the still-ongoing Washington State governor's race had both state and GOP officials crying foul yesterday, with Secretary of State Sam Reed saying that vote fraud is a possibility.
Asked if he thought the eleventh-hour vote find could be fraudulent, Reed told KTTH Seattle radio host Mike Siegel, "You want to look at that, just because it's so late in the process and the impact it could have on the outcome of this race."
Washington State is currently undergoing it's second ballot recount in a race where Republican Dino Rossi won the initial election by 261 votes over Democrat Christine Gregoire. A machine recount narrowed Rossi's victory margin to 42 votes.
Since the mystery votes were discovered in heavily Democratic King County, state election officials of both parties expect their inclusion would tip the race for Gregoire.
The Washington State Supreme Court ruled yesterday that individual canvassing boards were not required to review votes that were initially discarded because of flaws. But the finding did not affect the 561 vote find.
Secretary of State Reed was critical of King County election officials, telling Siegel that the eleventh hour discovery "strains credibility. Either it is just horrible incompetence . . . or something else is going on."
"[People] get very suspicious when, as Rossi pulls ahead, all of a sudden these ballots show up that could easily switch the lead," he added. "I think for the sake of voter trust and competence we're going to have to have a thorough investigation."
King County Director of Elections Dean Logan disagreed.
"I don't think there's any evidence or speculation that fraud has taken place," Logan told Siegel. "There's a clear record of what these ballots are and where they came from."
Logan insisted the mystery votes were the product of an honest mistake, saying they had been erroneously grouped with ballots that were unsigned or had signatures that didn't match.
Washington State Republican chairman Chris Vance wasn't persuaded by Logan's arguments.
Following Logan on Siegel's broadcast, Vance said, "From where we sit, it's impossible to tell whether this is incompetence or fraud. They look the same from the outside. If you were going to steal the election, the way you do it is to, at the very end, find a bunch of votes."
Vance noted: "This is about the fifth time that votes have been found in King County and Logan always has an explanation for it. But there's just no way for us to know."
bump
King county seems to be run like the eastern provinces in the Ukraine were during their election.
Hah. Limbacher calls himself an "editor." :-P
Logan must be related to the Chicago Daleys somehow. If it looks S**t, and it smells like s**t, it probably is s**t. That's what this looks like. Especially when you've already had a machine recount and they didn't show up then. Rats at their finest. They give a whole new meaning to stepping in s**t and come out smelling like a rose.
saying that vote fraud is a possibility. >>>NEWS FLASH<<<
Isn't that why there are rules?
Otherwise perfectly valid ballots, for example, are worthless if cast the day after the election...
Make these clowns prove, through chain of evidence, that these particular ballots were cast legally.
I hope they hide all the Dioxin in Washington.
But he nailed your head to the coffee table.
Yes, he nailed my head to the coffee table but he's a wonderful guy.
Monte Python skit that sounds like Pubbies always playing nice while the demonrats run roughshod over them, the rule of law and anything that gets in their way of the greater cause.
I guess the only thing that suprises me is the fact that anyone is surprised. As I predicted a couple of weeks ago. Gregoire will be certified the winner before Christmas. Some will cry foul, but by inaugration day, all will be forgotten.
Believe me, it will not be forgotten.
"Logan insisted that the mystery votes were the product of an honest mistake, saying they had been erroneously grouped with ballots that were unsigned or had signatures that didn't match"
Sounds like someone found some unsigned ballots and "fixed" them. Democrats must pay for this, we can not continue to let them steal elections.
More like Chicago!
""There's a clear record of what these ballots are and where they came from.""
Yes, the democratic headquarters. Sheesh, a child would know that.
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