For Immediate Release
November 23, 2002
Contact: Dwayne Bickford
Cynthia Bergman
Overt Disenfranchisement of Voters Condemned
Potentially Disenfranchised Voters Decry Democrat Tactics in State Senate Recount and Demand Their Votes Be Counted
PORTLAND—Voters from Maine’s 16th Senate District gathered today in front of the Cumberland County Superior Court to decry efforts by Democrats to overtly throw out valid ballots and in doing so deny them their most fundamental right as Americans, the right to vote.
“I am here today because I want my vote to be counted and I don’t know if it will be,” said Lucia Wright of New Castle. “I am outraged that my vote may be thrown out because people are more interested in winning an election than protecting our rights as citizens to vote, this is terrible to witness.”
A Democrat attorney for Chris Hall is disputing some legitimate ballots because the voter used a blue or black pen, instead of a pencil . . .
Hall Named Provisional Winner in Dist. 16 -- Fossel Withdraws Appeal -- New Strategy Revealed
(Update -- Posted 11/27 at 2:00PM) Senate Dist. 16 Republican candidate Les Fossel withdrew his appeal to the Maine State Supreme Judicial Court regarding the recount in Dist. 16. just 4 hours before the scheduled hearing. Withdrawl of the motion asking the State's highest court to intervene in the recount process removes the last roadblock to the swearing in of Democratic candidate Chris Hall as the new State Senator for Dist. 16.
However, the fight for Dist. 16 isn't over yet.
A statement issued by the State Republican Party leadership expressed resolve that the State Senate will make the final decision on who will be the next senator in Dist. 16, as already outlined in the State constitution.
The statement also revealed that the Republicans plan on taking their fight regarding the ballot count straight to the Senate floor in Augusta. . . .