Republicans to Contest Governor’s Election
Even the blind could have seen this coming.
The Republicans are going to contest the governor’s election in Washington State.
BELLEVUE, Wash. – Republican Dino Rossi and the state Republican Party announced Friday that they would contest the governor’s election that gave his Democratic opponent, Christine Gregoire, a 129-vote victory.
Republicans have been building a case over the past few weeks, gathering evidence of voting irregularities, including illegal provisional ballots and a handful of votes cast by dead people. They are pushing for a revote, an unprecedented step in a statewide election.
A Seattle Times article gives a better explanation of what lies ahead.
Former U.S. Sen. Slade Gorton, a key Rossi advisor, said it is not necessary to show fraud, only enough errors that puts the true outcome of the race in doubt.
"The number of votes cast questionably, illegally or mistakenly is vastly in excess of the 129 vote margin by which this election has been certified.," Gorton said.
[...]
Rossi won the initial count after the election by 261 votes. That triggered an automatic machine recount that showed him the winner by 42 votes and he was declared governor-elect.
But a hand recount ordered by the Democratic Party reversed that, and put Gregoire up by 129 votes. She was certified governor-elect and is scheduled to be sworn in Wednesday.
The law gives any voter 10 days from that point to file what is called an election contest.
The type of challenge the GOP is planning would essentially put the election on trial, with a judge hearing testimony and taking evidence on allegations of fraud or error that resulted in enough "illegal votes" that the true outcome of the election is unknown.
A judge can throw out the claim, declare Rossi the winner or nullify the election and call for a new one.
Sound Politics adds this, which cites the actual law being used as the basis for the Republican claim that the election should be set aside.
| Go to Home - Most Recent PostsGovernor-elect Dino Rossi just announced that his campaign will be contesting the election, standing before a sign reading "Every vote should have a voter."
He said that this state must have a re-vote, under any circumstances, even if the illegitimate ballots are thrown out by the courts, and overturn the election results. He would not want to accept office with a "cloud over his head." Thus, a re-vote is the only way to be sure of a legitimate victory.
This will be filed under the RCW 29.8.68 statute that allows the Courts to set aside an election when the number of votes in question exceeds the margin of victory.