A sensible Editorial from the Seattle Times for a change: Recount yes, but statewide~~ Editorial
Tuesday, November 30, 2004 - Page updated at 12:00 A.M.
If Christine Gregoire calls for a hand recount of votes in Washington's amazingly close governor's race, she should ask for the hand recount to be conducted statewide.
By law, Gregoire can select precincts or counties she would like recounted. Then if the lead in the race flips to her advantage, other counties would have to conduct and pay for a hand recount. At this point, a statewide recount would require a $700,000 deposit and could ultimately cost as much as $1 million, to be paid by the candidate or the party seeking it. Gregoire also could have selected a final machine recount but she has indicated a preference for the hand tally.
It is easy to understand the idea of trying to save money and recount specific precincts where Democrat Gregoire is likely to pick up voters — or Republican Dino Rossi is likely to lose votes.
Logical? Yes. Strategic? Yes. But that is not the way to avoid long-term resentment over vote counting. Washington residents and both candidates have to live with the results of this election a long time. Gregoire cannot behave as if she wants vote counting to continue until she wins. The closer the state gets to the most reliable count, the better.
As expensive as the statewide recount would be, voters everywhere would benefit if there is no cherry-picking of counties or precincts in advance. If there is to be a hand recount, take the cleaner, more equitable approach and conduct it statewide. The race between Gregoire and Rossi is the closest gubernatorial race in state history. Laws on the books are being tested by vote tallies that keep growing closer. Frustration is building among Republicans who want Gregoire to concede.
Gregoire has the law on her side: one final recount by hand or machine.
The law says Gregoire is entitled to a hand recount if she wants to pay for it, at 25 cents per vote. Finding a donor or several donors by Friday to pay for it is her problem.
Gregoire should live up to her own mantra to count every vote and live with the results.
This is the only way to reduce inevitable anger that could inflame partisan and geographical animosities in the state.
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