GOP looks like it may pick up Washington Governorship

[The Vorlon]

[The Vorlon]

Democrats Sue Wash. County Over Ballots

By PEGGY ANDERSEN, Associated Press Writer

SEATTLE - Washington state Democrats, fearful their candidate for governor might narrowly lose because of disputed ballots, sued election officials Friday in the state's largest county.

The lawsuit would block election officials in King County, home to Seattle, from discarding about 900 provisional ballots. Party officials hoped they could get a decision later in the day.

"We have one objective: Count every vote," said Paul Berendt, the state party chairman.

The legal wrangling is the result of the closest gubernatorial race in state history. As of Friday morning, Republican Dino Rossi led Democrat Christine Gregoire by about 3,600 votes out of over 2.7 million counted. The count could drag on into next week.

Counties estimated they have about 85,000 ballots left to count, mostly provisional ballots such as those that are the subject of the Democrats' lawsuit. King County has about 25,000 ballots left to count, mostly provisionals — which are essentially backup ballots that are cast when a resident's registration is in dispute.

Democrats demanded that King County not discard hundreds of provisional ballots and give the party — and the voters — a chance to fix technical problems, such as not signing the ballot envelope.

The move was criticized by Republicans, who said Democrats threatened to turn the gubernatorial election into "another Florida."

Thus far, the county has declined to count about 900 provisional ballots because they did not include a proper signature. The voters were being notified of the deficiency and have until Tuesday to submit the proper signature verification.


___

[The Vorlon]

If you simply take the remaining ballots by county and assume they distribute like the rest of the ballots cast in that county, Rossi seems to have a modest edge going forward.

There are, according tot he SEc of State, and ESTIMATED 21666 ballots left to count, about 4000 worth in King County.

Rossi's best hopes are Yakima and Benton counties - vounties he won +/- 2 to 1, and where there are 4700 ish ballots left to go...

This thing looks doomed for a recount either way.. and count challenges... and lawyers... a mini Florida 2000....

Glad Washington gets it and not the entire Nation

[The Vorlon]

UPDATED - November 17th

Christine Gregoire
 
 Democrat 1368565 48.86%
Dino Rossi
 
 Republican 1368970 48.87%
Ruth Bennett
 
 Libertarian 63193 2.25%


Sec of State Current Results

Estimated Ballots left

[The Vorlon]

From the Gubernatorial Board:

Latest vote totals from the Washington Secretary of State

As of 11/17/04 12:34 pm PST:

Christine Gregoire Democrat 1,367,886 48.87%
 
Dino Rossi  Republican 1,368,019 48.87%
 
Ruth Bennett Libertarian 63,121 2.25%

My math puts Rossi's margin at 133. 

ok

[The Vorlon]

261 votes out of 2.8 million..

It's over now... ya right....

It Lawyer time !!!

This thing gets litigated till the cows come home...

I am glad for the people of Washington however if Rossi wins - Divided Government is good   Dem Legislatures and GOP Governments are ok.

I like GOP legislatures with a Dem executive better, but at least they will get a little benevolent gridlock