Virginia Will Count Last 2,000 Ballots from November 2008
October 21st, 2009On October 21, the Virginia State Board of Elections voted to count the disputed 2,000 overseas ballots cast in the November 2008 election. A U.S. District Court earlier this month had ordered the Board to count them. They had not been counted previously because state law says they arrived too late, but the court ruling said the state should have mailed them out earlier.
It will be interesting to see how the results compare to the statewide vote as a whole. The results will show if overseas absentee ballots differ politically from regular Virginia voters.
It is still possible that the state will appeal the ruling to the 4th circuit. If the state has decided to appeal, it has not yet made this known to the public.
October 21st, 2009 at 1:27 pm
A refusal to count ballots is no different in its effect than a ballot access restriction that excludes voters and candidates from casting a ballot at all.
If ALL votes should be counted, then ALL voters should be able to vote for ANY candidate who offers him/herself for election.
Not counting votes and excluding candidates are both instances of election rigging.
October 21st, 2009 at 1:53 pm
Does this effect any office other than president?
October 21st, 2009 at 2:52 pm
yes, us senate and us house.
October 21st, 2009 at 3:50 pm
I’m interested how overseas voters vote as well. Any write-ins for Brian Moore, I wonder? ;)
The “forgot” to count some ballots here in the next county over, as well: http://www.timesreporter.com/elections/x1693434242/Absentee-ballot-dispute-prompts-special-session
October 21st, 2009 at 4:21 pm
Very interesting. The 5th CD race was decided by 727 votes. The 2,000 votes statewide will probably not be enough to overturn the outcome, however.