Congressional Special Election (last call! unstickied after NY-27 final results)

[GeorgiaModerate]

https://twitter.com/NickOchsnerWBTV/status/1098670594630053888

[_]

https://twitter.com/NickOchsnerWBTV/status/1098670594630053888

Aaaand that's game.

RIP jimrtex

[RogueBeaver]

https://twitter.com/ActorAaronBooth/status/1098688907804360705

[GeorgiaModerate]

https://twitter.com/NickOchsnerWBTV/status/1098688755853070336

[Ebsy]

Wow, NCSBE votes UNANIMOUSLY to repudiate jimrtex and his fabrications and orders a new election. He should be grateful they have not yet recommended prosecution for his crimes.

[The Mikado]

How's Bagel handling this news?

[Antonio the Sixth]

loljimrtexlol

[Oryxslayer]

https://twitter.com/Redistrict/status/1098694422429138949

I wouldn't count on it though. Harris has got all this free press of 'libs steal our seat,' so I doub't he loses the primary.

[Co-Chair Bagel23]

How's Bagel handling this news?

Not a fan of it, but I'll live.

[Alabama_Indy10]

https://twitter.com/ActorAaronBooth/status/1098688907804360705

Good

[Farmlands]

I would expect the GOP voters to not be dumb and throw away a solidly republican seat by voting for Mark Harris again, it would just spell doom in the general election.

[Virginiá]

What a great dad! He insulted his son in a public statement because it came out in a deposition that Harris was warned by said son and hired a known fraudster anyway, either out of stupidity or because he wanted an illegal vote harvesting operation to maximize his chances of winning.

Either one is completely on Mark Harris. He wouldn't be in this mess if he just listened to his son, but something tells me he is too stubborn to explicitly acknowledge that.

[Badger]

What a great dad! He insulted his son in a public statement because it came out in a deposition that Harris was warned by said son and hired a known fraudster anyway, either out of stupidity or because he wanted an illegal vote harvesting operation to maximize his chances of winning.

Either one is completely on Mark Harris. He wouldn't be in this mess if he just listened to his son, but something tells me he is too stubborn to explicitly acknowledge that.

He wouldn't be in this position at all indeed. He would have lost the primary and / or the general without fraudulent votes.

[Storr]

I would expect the GOP voters to not be dumb and throw away a solidly republican seat by voting for Mark Harris again, it would just spell doom in the general election.

This isn't a solidly GOP seat in any way.

[jimrtex]

The story about the "leaked" results was interesting.

At the end of early voting on Saturday at 1 p.m. They let everyone in line finish voting., and then cleared the room except for the actual election workers, who happened to be 6 Democrats and 2 unaffiliated (there were Republicans, but they only worked a second shift, and there was no second shift that day).

The election workers went about their duties, such as counting unvoted ballots. There were ballots in each of six ballot styles which had to be reconciled, etc. One of the things they believed had to be done was run the results tape, which had all the results printed on thermal paper that tended to roll up.

There were three election workers designated as "judges". There was one head and two assistant judges. Among their duties was to sign the result tape, which they did. This is likely a vestige of when there were hand-counted paper ballots, and the election judges signed the precinct tabulation, which would be locked in the ballot box with the ballots before being delivered to the county.

Except after early voting is completed on Saturday this is not done. Apparently none of the judges or election workers realized this, and were not aware until when informed while they were testifying.

According to Agnes Willis, one of three judges, an election worker (incidentally a Democrat) exclaimed, "oh my god!" and commented that he had thought that the black guy had won, pointing to the the sheriff's race. He had the result tape unrolled, and was pointing at the race, as the other workers walked over. Another judge, who had been responsible for running the tape had testified that he must have rolled the tape out to permit signing (he was one of the three signers) and his eye had caught the sheriff's race. He did not seem to have any recollection of the other workers seeing it. The head judge was not aware of any of this, but had signed the tape and had taken the tape locked up in the "treasure box" to the county. She thought that the elections administrator had questioned her about the "leak" then, but on further questioning had admitted it might have been the following Monday when she was picking up election supplies.

Agnes Willis, told her daughter who lived in Raleigh (or perhaps Greensboro or Charlotte) about the incident on the phone that night.

Two days after the NCSBOE had not certified the results in late November, Willis got a phone call from a local lawyer that she did not know. After saying it would take her an hour to get dressed, he instead came over to house, with a notary in tow, and an affidavit that had biographical information about Willis typed out attesting that she was over 18 and of sound mind and body, and was a resident of Bladen County and a registered voter.

She said that she was confused about what the lawyer wanted to know, and that he seemed confused about what information he was trying to get. After he made several phone calls and talked to Willis, he filled in the affidavit (hand printed in a script that would you have guessed Willis had done it) that she observed officials who were not "judges" looking at the results, and that she understood that his was improper.

She clearly understood the distinction of the word "judges", but people casually reading the affidavit would not. The news stories were that outsiders were in the early voting location perusing the results.

She further went on saying that there appeared to be an unusual number of absentee ballots from one precinct, Bethel. This does not actually appear to be true. Bethel, along with the two Elizabethtown precincts and Bladenboro precincts have more voters. Bethel also had the highest election day votes - and she may have perceived some of these as being absentee ballots - which she claimed could be detected by crease marks from being folded.

As has been discussed earlier, there was not an early voting locations in Dublin (in Bethel precinct) and Bladenboro as there had been for the primary and previous elections. Election day voting in Bladenboro and Dublin was up in 2018 over the 2016, presidential voting. But that was because there was not convenient early voting. Moreover, election day voting in Elizabethtown was below 2016 levels, because it was easier to vote over several weeks than on election day.

In addition, Hurricane Florence had knocked out the regular polling place in Dublin (at the Lions Club), so voters might have been uncertain about voting on election day if they had known about the new location.

[Holy Unifying Centrist]

The story about the "leaked" results was interesting.

At the end of early voting on Saturday at 1 p.m. They let everyone in line finish voting., and then cleared the room except for the actual election workers, who happened to be 6 Democrats and 2 unaffiliated (there were Republicans, but they only worked a second shift, and there was no second shift that day).

The election workers went about their duties, such as counting unvoted ballots. There were ballots in each of six ballot styles which had to be reconciled, etc. One of the things they believed had to be done was run the results tape, which had all the results printed on thermal paper that tended to roll up.

There were three election workers designated as "judges". There was one head and two assistant judges. Among their duties was to sign the result tape, which they did. This is likely a vestige of when there were hand-counted paper ballots, and the election judges signed the precinct tabulation, which would be locked in the ballot box with the ballots before being delivered to the county.

Except after early voting is completed on Saturday this is not done. Apparently none of the judges or election workers realized this, and were not aware until when informed while they were testifying.

According to Agnes Willis, one of three judges, an election worker (incidentally a Democrat) exclaimed, "oh my god!" and commented that he had thought that the black guy had won, pointing to the the sheriff's race. He had the result tape unrolled, and was pointing at the race, as the other workers walked over. Another judge, who had been responsible for running the tape had testified that he must have rolled the tape out to permit signing (he was one of the three signers) and his eye had caught the sheriff's race. He did not seem to have any recollection of the other workers seeing it. The head judge was not aware of any of this, but had signed the tape and had taken the tape locked up in the "treasure box" to the county. She thought that the elections administrator had questioned her about the "leak" then, but on further questioning had admitted it might have been the following Monday when she was picking up election supplies.

Agnes Willis, told her daughter who lived in Raleigh (or perhaps Greensboro or Charlotte) about the incident on the phone that night.

Two days after the NCSBOE had not certified the results in late November, Willis got a phone call from a local lawyer that she did not know. After saying it would take her an hour to get dressed, he instead came over to house, with a notary in tow, and an affidavit that had biographical information about Willis typed out attesting that she was over 18 and of sound mind and body, and was a resident of Bladen County and a registered voter.

She said that she was confused about what the lawyer wanted to know, and that he seemed confused about what information he was trying to get. After he made several phone calls and talked to Willis, he filled in the affidavit (hand printed in a script that would you have guessed Willis had done it) that she observed officials who were not "judges" looking at the results, and that she understood that his was improper.

She clearly understood the distinction of the word "judges", but people casually reading the affidavit would not. The news stories were that outsiders were in the early voting location perusing the results.

She further went on saying that there appeared to be an unusual number of absentee ballots from one precinct, Bethel. This does not actually appear to be true. Bethel, along with the two Elizabethtown precincts and Bladenboro precincts have more voters. Bethel also had the highest election day votes - and she may have perceived some of these as being absentee ballots - which she claimed could be detected by crease marks from being folded.

As has been discussed earlier, there was not an early voting locations in Dublin (in Bethel precinct) and Bladenboro as there had been for the primary and previous elections. Election day voting in Bladenboro and Dublin was up in 2018 over the 2016, presidential voting. But that was because there was not convenient early voting. Moreover, election day voting in Elizabethtown was below 2016 levels, because it was easier to vote over several weeks than on election day.

In addition, Hurricane Florence had knocked out the regular polling place in Dublin (at the Lions Club), so voters might have been uncertain about voting on election day if they had known about the new location.

You should be going outside and having fun as opposed to spending days of your life arguing for some creepy pastor.

[Antonio the Sixth]

The story about the "leaked" results was interesting.

At the end of early voting on Saturday at 1 p.m. They let everyone in line finish voting., and then cleared the room except for the actual election workers, who happened to be 6 Democrats and 2 unaffiliated (there were Republicans, but they only worked a second shift, and there was no second shift that day).

The election workers went about their duties, such as counting unvoted ballots. There were ballots in each of six ballot styles which had to be reconciled, etc. One of the things they believed had to be done was run the results tape, which had all the results printed on thermal paper that tended to roll up.

There were three election workers designated as "judges". There was one head and two assistant judges. Among their duties was to sign the result tape, which they did. This is likely a vestige of when there were hand-counted paper ballots, and the election judges signed the precinct tabulation, which would be locked in the ballot box with the ballots before being delivered to the county.

Except after early voting is completed on Saturday this is not done. Apparently none of the judges or election workers realized this, and were not aware until when informed while they were testifying.

According to Agnes Willis, one of three judges, an election worker (incidentally a Democrat) exclaimed, "oh my god!" and commented that he had thought that the black guy had won, pointing to the the sheriff's race. He had the result tape unrolled, and was pointing at the race, as the other workers walked over. Another judge, who had been responsible for running the tape had testified that he must have rolled the tape out to permit signing (he was one of the three signers) and his eye had caught the sheriff's race. He did not seem to have any recollection of the other workers seeing it. The head judge was not aware of any of this, but had signed the tape and had taken the tape locked up in the "treasure box" to the county. She thought that the elections administrator had questioned her about the "leak" then, but on further questioning had admitted it might have been the following Monday when she was picking up election supplies.

Agnes Willis, told her daughter who lived in Raleigh (or perhaps Greensboro or Charlotte) about the incident on the phone that night.

Two days after the NCSBOE had not certified the results in late November, Willis got a phone call from a local lawyer that she did not know. After saying it would take her an hour to get dressed, he instead came over to house, with a notary in tow, and an affidavit that had biographical information about Willis typed out attesting that she was over 18 and of sound mind and body, and was a resident of Bladen County and a registered voter.

She said that she was confused about what the lawyer wanted to know, and that he seemed confused about what information he was trying to get. After he made several phone calls and talked to Willis, he filled in the affidavit (hand printed in a script that would you have guessed Willis had done it) that she observed officials who were not "judges" looking at the results, and that she understood that his was improper.

She clearly understood the distinction of the word "judges", but people casually reading the affidavit would not. The news stories were that outsiders were in the early voting location perusing the results.

She further went on saying that there appeared to be an unusual number of absentee ballots from one precinct, Bethel. This does not actually appear to be true. Bethel, along with the two Elizabethtown precincts and Bladenboro precincts have more voters. Bethel also had the highest election day votes - and she may have perceived some of these as being absentee ballots - which she claimed could be detected by crease marks from being folded.

As has been discussed earlier, there was not an early voting locations in Dublin (in Bethel precinct) and Bladenboro as there had been for the primary and previous elections. Election day voting in Bladenboro and Dublin was up in 2018 over the 2016, presidential voting. But that was because there was not convenient early voting. Moreover, election day voting in Elizabethtown was below 2016 levels, because it was easier to vote over several weeks than on election day.

In addition, Hurricane Florence had knocked out the regular polling place in Dublin (at the Lions Club), so voters might have been uncertain about voting on election day if they had known about the new location.

cool story bro

[Tender Branson]

Excellent !

The NYT speculates about a primary in May, a possible runoff in September and the new GE in November.

It‘s also not clear yet if Harris or Pittenger run again.

[Gass3268]

Excellent !

The NYT speculates about a primary in May, a possible runoff in September and the new GE in November.

It‘s also not clear yet if Harris or Pittenger run again.

I think I read that Pittenger has zero interest in running again. I imagine he doesn't want to be in the minority.

[Bidenworth2020]

Excellent !

The NYT speculates about a primary in May, a possible runoff in September and the new GE in November.

It‘s also not clear yet if Harris or Pittenger run again.

I think I read that Pittenger has zero interest in running again. I imagine he doesn't want to be in the minority.

It was pretty clear in September republicans would be in the minority when he ran and lost in the primary.

[jimrtex]

The story about the "leaked" results was interesting.

You should be going outside and having fun as opposed to spending days of your life arguing for some creepy pastor.

Do you personally know Mark Harris?

[Brittain33]

What do people think we should do with this thread?

I think there's still a case to keep a thread stickied because the primaries and special elections will be (almost) the only game in town for Congressional races in 2019, but we have NC-3 and PA-12 coming, too. Should we make this an open thread for Congressional special elections?

[lfromnj]

What do people think we should do with this thread?

I think there's still a case to keep a thread stickied because the primaries and special elections will be (almost) the only game in town for Congressional races in 2019, but we have NC-3 and PA-12 coming, too. Should we make this an open thread for Congressional special elections?

Yeah probably its worth to sticky it coz NC 3rd and PA 12th will almost certainly be Safe R while this for now is a clear and PTU.

[GeorgiaModerate]

What do people think we should do with this thread?

I think there's still a case to keep a thread stickied because the primaries and special elections will be (almost) the only game in town for Congressional races in 2019, but we have NC-3 and PA-12 coming, too. Should we make this an open thread for Congressional special elections?

That seems reasonable.

[Brittain33]

The story about the "leaked" results was interesting.

At the end of early voting on Saturday at 1 p.m. They let everyone in line finish voting., and then cleared the room except for the actual election workers, who happened to be 6 Democrats and 2 unaffiliated (there were Republicans, but they only worked a second shift, and there was no second shift that day).

The election workers went about their duties, such as counting unvoted ballots. There were ballots in each of six ballot styles which had to be reconciled, etc. One of the things they believed had to be done was run the results tape, which had all the results printed on thermal paper that tended to roll up.

There were three election workers designated as "judges". There was one head and two assistant judges. Among their duties was to sign the result tape, which they did. This is likely a vestige of when there were hand-counted paper ballots, and the election judges signed the precinct tabulation, which would be locked in the ballot box with the ballots before being delivered to the county.

Except after early voting is completed on Saturday this is not done. Apparently none of the judges or election workers realized this, and were not aware until when informed while they were testifying.

According to Agnes Willis, one of three judges, an election worker (incidentally a Democrat) exclaimed, "oh my god!" and commented that he had thought that the black guy had won, pointing to the the sheriff's race. He had the result tape unrolled, and was pointing at the race, as the other workers walked over. Another judge, who had been responsible for running the tape had testified that he must have rolled the tape out to permit signing (he was one of the three signers) and his eye had caught the sheriff's race. He did not seem to have any recollection of the other workers seeing it. The head judge was not aware of any of this, but had signed the tape and had taken the tape locked up in the "treasure box" to the county. She thought that the elections administrator had questioned her about the "leak" then, but on further questioning had admitted it might have been the following Monday when she was picking up election supplies.

Agnes Willis, told her daughter who lived in Raleigh (or perhaps Greensboro or Charlotte) about the incident on the phone that night.

Two days after the NCSBOE had not certified the results in late November, Willis got a phone call from a local lawyer that she did not know. After saying it would take her an hour to get dressed, he instead came over to house, with a notary in tow, and an affidavit that had biographical information about Willis typed out attesting that she was over 18 and of sound mind and body, and was a resident of Bladen County and a registered voter.

She said that she was confused about what the lawyer wanted to know, and that he seemed confused about what information he was trying to get. After he made several phone calls and talked to Willis, he filled in the affidavit (hand printed in a script that would you have guessed Willis had done it) that she observed officials who were not "judges" looking at the results, and that she understood that his was improper.

She clearly understood the distinction of the word "judges", but people casually reading the affidavit would not. The news stories were that outsiders were in the early voting location perusing the results.

She further went on saying that there appeared to be an unusual number of absentee ballots from one precinct, Bethel. This does not actually appear to be true. Bethel, along with the two Elizabethtown precincts and Bladenboro precincts have more voters. Bethel also had the highest election day votes - and she may have perceived some of these as being absentee ballots - which she claimed could be detected by crease marks from being folded.

As has been discussed earlier, there was not an early voting locations in Dublin (in Bethel precinct) and Bladenboro as there had been for the primary and previous elections. Election day voting in Bladenboro and Dublin was up in 2018 over the 2016, presidential voting. But that was because there was not convenient early voting. Moreover, election day voting in Elizabethtown was below 2016 levels, because it was easier to vote over several weeks than on election day.

In addition, Hurricane Florence had knocked out the regular polling place in Dublin (at the Lions Club), so voters might have been uncertain about voting on election day if they had known about the new location.

https://twitter.com/jimsciutto/status/1098932366230384641