Posted on 12/29/2004 9:42:40 AM PST by Publius
County election officials across the state have turned down the Republican Party's request to reconsider rejected votes for gubernatorial candidate Dino Rossi, who is now faced with contesting the entire election or conceding.
State Democratic Party Chairman Paul Berendt called the county auditors' uniform refusal a clear sign that the never-ending governor's election has finally run its course.
"Chris Gregoire will be the next governor of Washington state," Berendt said. "Canvassing boards have spoken, and they have clearly stated this election is done."
With few or no openings left for Rossi, the Republicans redoubled their assault on the integrity of King County's election system, making the case to invalidate the entire election.
Gregoire won a hand recount by 129 votes out of 2.8 million cast. Rossi had won the original count by 261 votes and a mandatory machine recount by 42.
The final 129-vote margin is one less than announced at the end of the hand recount last week. One vote for Gregoire was subtracted from Thurston County's tally because it had been added after the county's initial certification.
King County violated state law by permanently altering ballots in which voter intent was apparently clear but marked for more than one candidates, according to state Republican Party Chairman Chris Vance.
County representatives said elections staff followed legal guidelines.
"There is one way to settle this," Vance said. "Show us the ballots. King County is required to keep records regarding enhanced and altered ballots, so surely they are available to be inspected."
Vance said he is "eager to close the chapter on this election" but won't until he gets answers to that and many other questions about King County elections.
In their fight to get previously rejected ballots reconsidered, most county auditors declined the Republicans' request outright in part because Republican Secretary of State Sam Reed advised against it.
Kittitas, Grays Harbor, Lewis and Clark counties did reconvene canvassing boards but chose not to consider any new ballots.
Kittitas County Auditor David Bowen said the canvassing board decided not to review the ballots associated with the affidavits presented by the Republicans because it was too late.
"Since the deadline had come and gone, those affidavits were no longer valid for this election," Bowen said.
The county certified the manual recount Dec. 13 and considered that date the deadline.
Rossi's spokeswoman Mary Lane said refusal to review rejected ballots strengthens the argument that the election was unfair.
"The decisions today highlight the fact that there is inconsistency across the state in the way disenfranchised voters are treated," Lane said.
Republicans are upset that hundreds of mistakenly rejected absentee ballots in King County were considered in the hand recount, which helped Gregoire. The state Supreme Court ruled last week that those ballots could be counted because the error had been discovered before King County finished its recount.
The secretary of state is scheduled to certify the results tomorrow.
Lane said Rossi hasn't made any decisions yet on contesting the election or conceding.
Berendt said: "Republicans and Democrats across the state have worked together to have an accurate hand count. Rossi just didn't like the results. His last shot at overturning the election faded today, when Democratic and Republican auditors turned him down."
The Democrat Party has been reduced to having to cheat to put people in office. 2008 is gonna be a bloodbath for them.
More Republicans caving in, no news here.
All the dems have to do is show their knuckles and the pansy RINOs cave.
Looks like the libturds in Seattle took a page from Mayor Daley/Sam Giancana and the JFK 60 elections. Nothing like a little election fraud.
ON THE MONEY!
I get sick and damn tired of Repubs saying, "we have to take the high road" or "we don't decend to their level" on crap like this. You have to get in there and FIGHT. Believe me, the leftists KNOW that and they fight for what they believe in, however dorked up.
When you are fighting for something worthwhile, you MAY have to get your hands dirty.
It's also similar to Florida in 2000.
Where are those liberals with their No Justice, No Peace placards ?
Oh, they were busy voting in multiple states ...
Ping.
Sounds like it's time for the federal government to step in and guarantee a republican form of government, just as the Constitution requires.
Bite me.
It will be a bloodbath for the Dems in 2008 IF we remind the voters of this from now until '08. We need to remind the voters of the Wellstone "Memorial", of Hillary's "We need to take things from you" comment, the Washington gubertorial fiasco, etc.
We cannot depend on people to remember these things - we must remind them from now until '06 and beyond.
I have been saying the same thing for a month. This election was stolen. Fascists and communists do this. And the GOP does nothing.
Sadly, I'm sure you're right.
Typical. They open the books to defraud the election and give the dem a win, but close them up tight after the fact.
Is Rossi scheduled to hold presser within an hour of certification? I presume he will either concede or announce legal filing?
"Gregoire won a hand recount by 129 votes out of 2.8 million cast. Rossi had won the original count by 261 votes and a mandatory machine recount by 42."
Since elections are decided on votes, I suggest an arithmetic mean be taken of the differential in each count and let the candidate with a higher average be the winner:
Rossi's average: (261+42)/2 = 151.5 votes.
Gregorie's average: 129/1 = 129.0 votes.
I hope some dummy leftist judge takes my advice.
Rossi is the winner.
"One vote for Gregoire was subtracted from Thurston County's tally because it had been added after the county's initial certification."
Double counting: the top trick in the dem's book of trickery and fraud.
ReVote! Revote!
The rumor on another thread yesterday was that Rossi would concede.
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