The WA Governor brouhaha: US 2000 in microcosm? What to do?

Great Debates
1

Well, what a ride it’s been for the people of Washington State. First, Republican Dino Rossi (who would be the first Repub governor in the state in decades) wins by about 150 votes. A mandatory recount cut his lead to about 40. Then the Dems (as allowed by state law) ponied up the cash for hand recount in all counties (the last allowed by state law - whatever the count is this time is IT). State Republicans went ballistic, saying that Christine Gregoire (the Democratic candidate) should’ve conceded gracefully, and that the recount would hurt the state. State Dems, of course, aren’t buying it, and say they would proceed with it whether Gregoire wanted them to or not.

So the recount happens. The state Supreme Court rejects a bid by Dems to recount a bunch of previously rejected ballots. But, BUT, about 530 ballots in heavily Democratic King County were discovered to have been not counted in error by a councilman who discovered that his vote, otherwise proper, wasn’t counted.

So the Republicans filed suit to stop the counting of those ballots, calling them “suspicious” and saying that basically, King County made a mistake, and they just have to live with it. The suit was granted, and the Democrats are, predictably, appealing.

First of all, it seems to me that no matter who wins this, there’ll be a GWB type situation where the losing side will be grumbling about a “stolen election” until the end of time. Secondly, what do you all think about the 530 ballot issue? It could very well make a huge difference, since Rossi’s lead has gone back down to that original 40. You can find more details here (which should also have links to past/related stories for your edification).

This is a sticky situation, and both sides have gotten out their fangs and claws. What do you think should happen?

2

Dueling pistols at twenty paces.

Seriously, the problem I have with the Republican effort is that the Democrats paid for the recount as required by law. Now that recount has been stopped by court order. Point. Counterpoint. It looks like the state supreme court will have to decide the issue. Shades of Florida in 2000?

What really needs to be done is a bipartisan effort to change the elections laws and clarify the specific procedures for elections, recounts, etc. But I do not see this happening in Washington State, or anywhere else for that matter, now that the political chasm grows ever wider. Another crack in the foundation of America?

3

Washingtonian here. Apparently, state law makes no provision for what to do with mistakenly rejected or lost ballots after the initial count. Oddly, it states that a recount can only include ballots counted the first time around. So - if a pollworker mistakenly (or otherwise) puts a pile of ballots in the “reject” pile, or shoves a few hundred under a table, and this fact is discovered later, it’s just too damn bad for the voters whose votes will not count, be they valid or not. Apparently, screwing up is not addressed. Go figure.