* I am continuing yesterday's table with blow-by-blow coverage of the recount reports. Scroll down, or visit this page
* King County vote counters have surgically enhanced 710 previously rejected ballots after county officials divined the voter's intent. [Are they using divining rods or do they have a haruspex on the canvassing board? -- Ed.]
Meanwhile [from the above linked article] Losertarian gubernatorial candidate Ruth Bennett (2nd from right) watches closely to make sure that all of her ballots are counted and that she's not robbed of victory.
* Snohomish County has discovered 224 brand new magical mystery ballots that weren't counted the first time. Snohomish has a Democrat administration but also voted for Rossi (in the first count) with a 2% margin. A random sample of of 224 Snohomish ballots would add 4-5 votes to Rossi's lead. On the other hand, most of these ballots were from precincts that favored Gregoire. Unfortunately, nobody seems to know whether these were valid ballots or "provisional ballots that needed checking".
* Tim Goddard has an interesting and well-researched analysis of the recount numbers, that takes into account the voting technology used in each county. Among other things, it helps explain why Adams, Kittitas and Walla Walla counties all had larger changes in the recount than other counties -- all three use the same sucky technology. Now if only Tim's analysis, as good as it is, could also be enhanced to predict all of the human folly and error, like the 224 magical mystery ballots in Snohomish and the 710 surgically enhanced haruspex ballots in King.
P.S. A big thanks to the well-written and widely read PoliPundit blog, which has linked to us often in the last couple of weeks. If you found us from a PoliPundit link, welcome! If you're not already a PoliPundit reader, be sure to check it out!
UPDATE: The Republicans have been granted a date of Nov. 30 for a federal court hearing to determine whether the surgically enhanced King County haruspex ballots can be included in the final vote count.
UPDATE 1:30pm: I heard on the radio that Snohomish County courthouse in Everett was closed due to a bomb scare. According to this map, the courthouse is in an adjacent building to the Auditor's Office. Not clear whether this bomb scare is affecting the vote count.
UPDATE 1:46pm: Snoho bomb scare has been called off. Everything back to normal, per 710 KIRO newsroom.
Posted by Stefan Sharkansky at November 23, 2004 10:16 AM | Email ThisIf Rossi winds up ahead by double or even a single digit margin, the D's will insist on a hand recount, during which they will try desperately to wring out the necessary votes for Chrissy G.
Given all the errors, carelessness and yes, potential fraud, going on around the State, whoever winds up taking the oath in January will viewed as illegitimate by half the population.
I hope we can get some sort of electoral reform out of all of this with consistent standards and technology for the entire State. If not, public confidence in our electoral process will be permanently impaired.
Posted by: Kevin S on November 23, 2004 10:47 AMHere is a paragraph that describes how these additional votes may have been qualified:
In many cases, the voter may have outlined an oval, or used a checkmark or an "X", or circled a candidate's name, or written in a name that already exists on the ballot, or any of a hundred other ways to not follow clear instructions. In such cases, election officials -- both a Democrat and a Republican -- will often agree on what is unequivocally the voter's intent, and mark a ballot such that it will be accurately recorded. If they don't agree, the disputed ballot goes to a county canvassing board (again, with bipartisan membership) for adjudication.
Posted by: bt on November 23, 2004 11:04 AMBut i say too stupid to vote, then they shouldn't be counted. Hey, technically my thought process helps the Dems!
Because republicans are all idiots, remember?
So i am saying stop the idiots from voting..
..why should Dems take issue with that?
You know why?
Posted by: bmvaughn on November 23, 2004 11:05 AMCount all the votes and let the chips fall where they may. With this close race, one party will be disappointed at the end. A thorough count of votes helps reduce post-election challenges. You can't bully your way through the process!
Posted by: bt on November 23, 2004 11:11 AMI have no sympathy for morons who can't follow simple instructions.
Posted by: Kevin S on November 23, 2004 11:12 AMAlso, don't jump to conclusions about voters. Voting machines, even electronic ones, aren't as reliable as they ought to be. Even touch screen voting machines, for example, are sometimes too sensitive and cause wrong candidates to be chosen when they mistake your hand or fingers for the stencil. Let's fix technology first before complaining about humans.
People first. Our country is based on putting people first. Don't forget that even if it is convenient at times to do so.
Posted by: bt on November 23, 2004 11:17 AMThe problem is, there is too much leeway for potentially partisan election workers to make decisions that benefit the candidate of their choice.
I have heard of one instance of a clear Rossi vote being thrown out because of a stray mark in the Gregoire area of the ballot. It was ruled an overvote.
With the manager of King Co. elections being a former Democrat PCO, you might understand how we are a bit suspiscious of what is going on up there.
Posted by: Kevin S on November 23, 2004 11:37 AMBoth camps are clearly not what America is all about- freedom. One person's freedom ends where another person's injury begins. Therefore to exclude the "stupid" is to impinge on freedom.
Posted by: Dude on November 23, 2004 11:46 AMBTW...Pierce Co. came in with +19 for Rossi...I was down there observing all weekend, so that makes me happy.
Feel free to accuse me of cheating for Rossi. He's going to need all the help he can get to offset King Co. efforts on behalf of Gregoire.
Posted by: Kevin S on November 23, 2004 11:52 AMI guess that's the kind of comeback one comes up with when they know they're wrong.
Step 1: Change the issue.
Step 2: Get insulting
Step 3: Pat yourself on the back, you're done.
That said, I have just found something I think you all should read and note what was not said. As Andy of "The Apprentice" said in his own defense last Thursday, 'I learned in debate it's not how to speak but how to listen.'
So, on that thought, I want you all to point your browers to Scary Development for Rossi, and scroll down to "Edition 5.81 - 11:45 AM Tuesday". It's really raunchy. As in gotta see and take action. NOW.
Posted by: Josef on November 23, 2004 11:58 AMI firmly believe that if you are too stupid to follow simple instructions, then what you think doesn't matter. It shows that you do not take the very important matter of voting seriously.
In any case, call me what you will. I believe that I am correct in this view.
Posted by: Kevin S on November 23, 2004 12:06 PMBut it came in for Rossi plus 19, so praise them.
Give me a break- normal processes are going on...
Posted by: Jim King on November 23, 2004 12:39 PMI watched them enhance ballots for several hours. This is unfortunately is what the law allows. My point is that it should not be allowed. The danger comes in when partisan election managers rule ballots that are arguably, but not clearly, marked for Rossi as overvotes and refuse to send them for canvassing.
That's why we can't trust King Co.
Posted by: Kevin S on November 23, 2004 01:17 PMPosted by: X on November 23, 2004 01:19 PM
After having spent over three decades fighting the D's, I doubt they'd have me. They still don't forgive those of us who helped get the Rossi budget passed in '03.
And which of Dino's platform planks were YOU behind? I can claim one... And am excitdely awaiting the $125 million a biennium for State Parks!
Posted by: Jim King on November 23, 2004 01:29 PMIn any case, I make no apologies for advocating for Rossi in this mess. I spent the entire weekend observing in Pierce Co. with the aim of helping him win this recount. The D's were there too, of course. We were on top of every single questionable ballot that looked as if it might be for Rossi - and we made sure that it either got re-made as such or was at least sent to canvassing.
And, I must say that the operation in Pierce Co. is totally transparent. Pat McCarthy, a Democrat, bent over backwards to accomodate both sides and her staff was professional at all times. If either side disputed the validity of a ballot, it most likely went to canvassing. Most of the time we didn't have to ask - they sent it without us having to dispute it.
So, Kudos to the Pierce Co. Auditor and staff.
Posted by: Kevin S on November 23, 2004 01:59 PMWhere were you Mr. King, while we were busting our rear ends all weekend trying to get Rossi elected, Mr. Three Decade Republican?
Nearly everything you write is an apology for the D's. If people like you are the ones who have been fighting the D's for over 30 years, it's no wonder they've been kicking our butts all this time. When was the last R Governor...20 years ago. Yeah, you've done a great job.
With opponents like you the D's hardly need friends.
Posted by: Kevin S on November 23, 2004 02:08 PM"Kevin- you don't know shit"
Nice, Mr. King. You will do well to remember that profanity is merely a crutch for a limited vocabulary.
Posted by: Kevin S on November 23, 2004 02:12 PMLet's see:
*OFFICE OF REGULATORY REFORM to review regulations... You can go to http://josef-a-k.blogspot.com/2004/11/regarding-governor-rossi-pending.html for an exchange between me and Dave Ross on this where the progressive Dave Ross agrees we have a problem.
*PERFORMANCE PAY for teachers - why not!!! Teachers making $100K... about bloddy time!
*"A state constitutional amendment to guarantee, at a minimum, yearly inflationary increases for K-12 spending" - figure Rossi's words are the best.
*An overall global test for education funding, that being "accountability before [new] money"! (You can go to http://josef-a-k.blogspot.com/2004/10/what-darn-global-test-is.html for what a 'global test' REALLY is!!!)
And of course... the state parks!
FINALLY: Rossi also solemnly pledges to bring to justice to or justice to the evildoers in state government - like the DSHS (fill-in-the-blank) responsible for the latest atrocity, the bully on the Skagit Valley College Board of Trustees whom bullied me into turning off my tape recorder during a board debate, etcetera. Gregoire is THEIR pawn and much worse. Rossi is their fear and OUR hope. Go figure...
GO DINO GO! Save Our State! GO DINO GO!
Posted by: Josef on November 23, 2004 02:12 PM"If people like you are the ones who have been fighting the D's for over 30 years, it's no wonder they've been kicking our butts all this time."
I don't want to take sides, but that is a most excellent burn.
Posted by: Matt J Kurlander on November 23, 2004 02:17 PMAll I did was develop (and push) the State Parks program that Dino has adopted.
Although I do support the remainder, and will be very involved in its adoption.
My point about Pierce County is that everything you are griping about in King County was going on in Pierce- under your nose- but no gripes...
In fact, you praise it. Explain- but you can't...
Boy, you folks sure don't like getting called on your hypocrisy...
Posted by: Jim King on November 23, 2004 04:06 PMThat said, I hate the idea of ballot enhancement...it is fraught with peril in terms of opportunity for mischief. I'd happily give back the 19 in Pierce if we could scrap the whole enhancement process.
However, that is the process we were stuck with. Luckily, in Pierce the elections personnel were honest and objective, but both sides watched like hawks nonetheless.
In King, there is a more partisan Democrat establishment which recognizes that it is in King that the election will have to be turned. Nowhere else has enough questionable votes to do so.
If they fail to steal the election, it will be no thanks to people like you who were perfectly willing to allow them.
Those of us who have been calling attention to the biased enhancement process in King Co. will be the ones who stopped it, if Rossi's lead holds.
Posted by: Kevin S on November 23, 2004 04:19 PMPersonally, I will credit Norm Maleng and Dan Sattenburg for making sure nothing untoward happened in King County- if there had been any attempt. And the basic honesty of Dean Logan and Dwight Pelz, as well.
Sorry that I know these people, and know them to be honest (even if misguided Democrats)- the same is true for Pat McCarthy in Pierce, and many of her election staff that I have known for years. I hate to tell you this, but Democrats can be honest in counting elections, even in King County.
That is why I have been so laid back, and have had it up to HERE with conspiracy theories from no-nothings who have done-nothing.
When you've accomplished something meaningful in politics, Kevin, you'll have EARNED the right to have anyone take you seriously...
Posted by: Jim King on November 23, 2004 04:39 PMIt puzzles me that you imagine yourself having accomplished a darn thing. I came to this State in 1987 and in that time I have known only Democrat Governors, we have lost our only GOP US Senator, only intermittent control of one house of the legislature or another, and now we are back down to three US Congressmen after leading 7-2 after the apparenlty abberrant '94 election.
If you want to lay claim to that record of failure, it's all yours buddy. I'd be embarrassed to do so.
Maybe it would be better for you to just quietly retire, Mr. King.
You've done enough damage.
Posted by: Kevin S on November 23, 2004 04:56 PMAlthough I think that Mr. King is a bit more trusting of the King County Dems than I would be, I don't think he deserves all of the abuse that some of the commenters are heaping on him.
This google search for "+"jim king" +washington +parks +rossi" shows him to be something of a stand-up guy.
Posted by: Stefan Sharkansky on November 23, 2004 05:13 PMWhen I last served as a party officer we held as many statewide offices as we gained this year- with Ken Eikenberry as AG, Brian Boyle as Lands Commissioner, Dick Marquardt as Insurance Commissioner, and Ralph Munro as Secretary of State. Both U.S. Senate seats were ours- Gorton and Evans. And then the party went from Reaganesque to Robertson burlesque, and we started a wandering in the wilderness, with just a short-lived mid-90's comeback.
During my years in party office, we carried the state for the presidency four times in a row- since you arrived in state... nada.
I think you are lucky some of the old-timers stepped back in this year in support of Rossi- the very former office-holders so often derided as RINOs, and so many of the rest of us also so derided. The conservative and moderate party establishment won this race, jointly.
Of such is victory made. No paranoia needed.
Posted by: Jim King on November 23, 2004 05:17 PMMatt Rosenberg brought this remarkable post by Scott Cummins to my attention. Like Matt, I found this part especially striking.
Consider the Seattle political landscape of today. A Republican working in Seattle city government begs a reporter not to "out" him for fear of workplace retaliation. City advisory boards, commissions and volunteer councils are cleansed of Republican involvement by Democratic operatives who, by turn, control nominations, define selection criteria, and vet candidates. City Department Managers meanwhile provide similar access to public employee union bosses. All to ensure the iron-fisted grip of Democrats — concerned by their mere 85% standing among the electorate!
Now, anyone who thinks a county with such a climate is objective and honest is just plain foolish.
Another thing, I agree that it would be good to start obeying Ronald Reagan's 11th commandment - which many of us have violated here.
I will try refrain from further attacks on my fellow R's...even if I think they are really wrong, as long as they afford me the same courtesy.
Posted by: Kevin S on November 23, 2004 05:24 PMLong hours, for twenty plus years, and I so mightily want a Republican Governor! Dino isn't just a Republican Governor- he is the closest thing to the charismatic leader that was Ronald Reagan that I have seen in this state.
Yes, Dino is White House material. And he's young enough for that to happen. (Young- I've got two years on him...).
So I'm not indifferent to the recount. Far from it. But I've been there with both a State Senate and a U.S. Senate majority on the line, and with many other close elections and recounts. I have observed the process in this state for decades.
And, proudly, unlike other states we do not have a corruption problem- we just have to guard against human error, stupid mistakes, and foot soldiers (of either party) pulling something.
It is very hard to read folks who do not know these people impugn their honesty. It is always difficult for me to see hypocrisy from my own party. We should hold to the standards set by Lincoln, Teddy Roosevelt, Eisenhower, and Reagan.
That said, I am interested in evety nuance, but I have no doubt of the outcome...
Posted by: Jim King on November 23, 2004 05:30 PMKing County has a one-vote D majority on its Council and has a Republican Prosecutor.
And Mr Cynical- look at what I posted about MY record- I refuse to take blame for what the ikes of Mr Shannon has done to the party. I did my party duty in the 70's and early '80's, and we were quite successful.
And snide remarks about lobbyists doesn't exactly pour oil on the troubled water, does it? Ask Gary Locke whether I kissed his ass or kicked it to keep parks open- I am not exactly known as an ass-kisser- more well known as the guy who will break a dozen eggs to get that three egg omelet for the little people I represent.
You want ass-kissing, go to the AWB, who is STILL trying to burnish Gary Locke's inept record...
Posted by: Jim King on November 23, 2004 05:36 PMFolks that screw around deal-making and don't stand up consistently for what they believe in are the problem. With BIAW, you always know where they stand (agree or disagree). That is honorable and I can respect that. The AWB screwing around is disgusting!!! Posted by: Mr. Cynical on November 23, 2004 05:50 PM
This is interesting stuff. I added what I did to make clear that Dino was more than about parks and to provide a Dinocrat view.
That said, I am concerned about ALL ballot antics. What finally got me to dive into this completely was the blank ballot fiasco in King County. That unnerves me to no end. Does it you?
I also hope you saw the good news I posted about McKenna's office verifiying ballot segregation.
Yours;
Josef
Posted by: Josef on November 23, 2004 06:51 PMI am honestly not concerned about the blank ballots. They WERE secured.
Let me give you an example of why I am concerned about Republican hysteria. I see Dino with a somewhat narrower, but clear, win tomorrow.
I see desperate Democrat party operatives, looking for any way to manufacture votes.
I see Republicans wanting to end the counting, and Democrats using the very examples that Republicans have thrown up to help fan the flames to look behind the election count.
An example- tonight I heard that some callers to KVI have been claiming that their ballots were returned to them because of postal error. I have no clue as to whether or not this is true. BUT- if it happened to Rossi voters, it probably happened to Gregoire voters. And for every two Rossi votes, you get three Gregoire votes.
True or not, claim a thousand of these- that is only a little over one-tenth of one percent of the King County vote- and you manufacture a 200 net potential vote gain for Gregoire. Just as we want the fires OUT, Republican claims fan them!
And this goes into the courts, in which I have less confidence, NOT to the county election administrators or the Secretary of State. And this drags out the certification process, which puts Rossi behind in getting his team together and his budget ready as he prepares to go head-to-head with a Democratic legislature with all its staffing up and running, getting the full cooperation of the lameducks.
THAT is why I believe we should have had more confidence in the normal ballot counting process.
Posted by: Jim King on November 23, 2004 08:08 PMI agree with you. You make a good case for calm. Maybe you should be Artest's counselor - kidding :-)
Also, in good humor tonight - you might want to visit my blog post here and see Edition 5.82.
Yours;
Josef
Posted by: Josef on November 23, 2004 09:16 PMI'm back...I know you all missed me terribly, especially you, Mr. Jim King. You really shouldn't take things personally...I don't. I love political combat...anything that doesn't kill you makes you stronger.
Anyway, I guess my offer of truce has been refused...so I will post accordingly from this point forward. I guess political maturity doesn't necessarily come with old age, does it, Mr. King?
However, let me agree with you about the AWB...they are worthless...see, even you and I can find common ground.
I any case, to say that it is my 'likes' that did in the party is to be most ill informed. Back in the early '90s when things fell apart, I was a mere college student and had little idea that there were many factions within the GOP, some of which hated each other, as it turns out.
To accuse me of being in league with the Pat Robertson debacle of '88 is utterly false - I supported Bob Dole that year. I don't even go to church...but I am not hostile to those that do, or don't. There are many reasons why a person might vote R...we need to include them all...which is why I offered the olive branch to you earlier, which you promptly seized and broke in half.
Anyway, I understand why you might be angry with me - it's tough when someone has the temerity to point out your short comings. Mine may be that I am overly suspicious - yours is that you are far too trusting.
But I must ask, who would you rather have watching out for your interests at the vote counting (or re-counting) facility?
-K-
Posted by: Kevin S on November 24, 2004 12:06 AMTake a chill pill, and plan for the victory party beginning at 4:20pm...
Posted by: Jim King on November 24, 2004 07:11 AMI feel Jim's pain. He's one of the old hands who's kindly came over to the new era and blogging and I dunno: SAVE OUR STATE. Be nicer to him.
He heard our S-O-S and he came! Good enuf for this Dinocrat!
And for you to write, "I agree that it would be good to start obeying Ronald Reagan's 11th commandment - which many of us have violated here," and then do what you've done is hypocritical. Maybe you too can hang out with Paul Berendt and Christine Gregoire!
Josef
A Dinocrat, NOT A Republican
Save Our State!
Anyway, it may be premature to celebrate - I just heard Berendt say they will insist on a hand recount.
If that happens, I will be back at the courthouse helping out the Rossi effort.
Maybe you will make it down this time, Jim?
Posted by: Kevin S on November 24, 2004 09:02 AM