The never-ending election.
Governor's Race Heads To The Courtroom...Again
December 18, 2004
By George Howell
SEATTLE - The state's race for Governor is headed back to the courtroom.
Saturday King County filed a new appeal with the state Supreme Court, asking them to overturn a ruling made Friday.
That ruling prohibits King County from counting nearly 700 ballots mistakenly rejected in the last recount.
"We're really disappointed with the decision that was made in court yesterday," said King County Elections supervisor Dean Logan. "We believe, as we've believed all along, that there is a provision in the state law that allows the canvassing board to identify a discrepancy, or an inconsistency."
King County said all along, this was their mistake so they are in essence joining the democrats who filed their appeal Friday with the Supreme Court.
Both groups say these additional votes are valid, and should be counted. But republicans say they should have just "done it right" the first time.
Republicans expect the Supreme Court to side with them.
Chris Vance, with the Washington State Republican Party said, "the Supreme Court has already ruled that a recount must be nothing but a re-counting of the same ballots again."
"I think the Supreme Court will clarify that, and that will be made clear for all of the counties," said Lisa Cohen, the spokesperson for the Washington State Democratic Party.
The state's Supreme Court plans to hear this case early next week.
In the meantime, King County is not even allowed to investigate the signatures on those ballots, to determine whether they can be counted. |
