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http://www.wa-democrats.org/site/Rossi11.htm
Washington State Democrats

For Immediate Release Contact: Kirstin Brost

November 16, 2004

Rossi In Court Trying to Throw Out Votes and Steal The Election

SEATTLE – What right is more important than the right to vote?

What position is stronger than defending the right of voters to be heard?

Dino Rossi’s friends at the Republican Party have just announced that they are going to sue King County to throw out hundreds of ballots.

“Going to court to stop ballots from being counted is disgraceful. George W. Bush did it in 2000 in Florida and now Dino Rossi is doing it in 2004,” said Paul Berendt, Chair of the Washington State Democrats. “Dino Rossi wants a court to stop ballots from being counted because he knows that the ballot count isn’t going his way. Rossi knows that Chris Gregoire will be the next governor if every vote is counted.”

“This is not the Republican Party’s decision. Chris Vance said publicly on Friday that he was opposed to taking legal action. Dino Rossi made the call himself. No one who wants to be governor should be going to court to stop voters from having their votes counted,” said Berendt.

On Friday, Democrats went to court to force King County to release the names of voters whose ballots were being disqualified for technical reasons, including administrative errors. That’s because Democrats wanted these voters to have a chance to make their vote count.

A judge agreed, telling the courtroom “No right is more precious than the right to vote.” He ordered the county to release the names, so their ballots could be saved. (Seattle Post-Intelligencer 11/13/04)

Over the weekend, volunteers contacted hundreds of voters, warned them that their ballots were going to be disqualified, and gave them a chance to save their votes. Many of the voters we helped had never heard from King County, or were unable to make it to the auditors office on their own. On Monday, volunteers delivered hundreds of affidavits to King County in order to keep these ballots from being thrown out.

Here are some of the stories behind these ballots that Rossi is trying to disqualify

o Four individual voters suffering from Parkinsons whose ballots were disqualified because of mis-matched signatures. Their condition also makes it difficult for them to visit the auditor’s office.

o A disabled voter whose ballot was disqualified because of variations in spelling between his registration form and his ballot – variations due to his condition.

o College students who attend school out of state.

o A housebound voter unable to make the trip downtown.

o Numerous voters who were never told their ballots were in question until informed by volunteers.

These are just a few examples. Rossi should stop trying to treat these voters like second class citizens, and let every vote be counted.

“Dino Rossi is asking for votes to be thrown out with the morning trash, just because things aren’t going his way,” concluded Berendt.

# # #

Kirstin Brost

Communications Director

Washington State Democrats

206-281-9124

Paid for by the Washington State Democratic Central Committee. www.wa-democrats.org. This communication not authorized by any candidate or candidate’s committee.