FL: Jennings takes legal action amid recount (Herald Tribune)

[Amaryllis]

http://www.heraldtribune.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20061114/NEWS/611140496

Jennings takes legal action amid recount
By JEREMY WALLACE and DALE WHITE

STAFF WRITERS

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It didn't take long for the first legal action to be taken in the disputed congressional race, signaling how big a role the courts may ultimately play in deciding who represents the 13th District.

In the five counties comprising the district, elections supervisors and canvassing boards on Monday launched a recount of votes for Vern Buchanan, the Republican nominee, and Christine Jennings, the Democratic nominee.

Hanging over that recount is an unusually high undervote in Sarasota County from the Nov. 7 election. More than 18,000 voters in Sarasota County left the race for Congress blank, causing many Democrats to speculate whether electronic voting machines failed to register votes that should have gone to Jennings.

<snip>

One of the dozens of election observers questioned the procedures that Sarasota County Supervisor of Elections Kathy Dent was using. The recount got restarted 30 minutes later. Then, at the end of the day, Jennings' attorneys announced that they had filed an emergency petition with the Circuit Court to secure all voting machinery and data for possible further investigation.

"The number one goal is to ensure that every voter's intention is recorded and their votes counted," said attorney Jeffrey Liggio.

[ChiciB1]

1. I Read That Article Today Myself Because I Live Here & I Am Going

to orientation tonight to help with the current recount going on. I will observe on Wednesday, but I don't know what will work absent an actual new election in THIS county.

This was Jennings' county from the get go and Buchanan knew it all along and so did Kathy Dent! My precinct under voted by 19% while some here even under voted by as much as 25%!

I have no doubt that funny business went on, but I will observe and we will go from there. I'll have better information after Wednesday. Dent is a nasty piece of work and abrasive!

The of course, there's Jebby & Cobb too! But we aren't letting go yet because it's much to evident something went wrong.

[Febble]

2. Check out frontpage piece by Kos

http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2006/11/14/142242/76

And recount fund drive:

http://www.actblue.com/page/bluemajority?refcode=DKosFL13recount

[philb]

3. Impounding the machines immediately and auditing would have almost surely resolved the issue

and documented likely manipulation or at least systematic improper calibration affecting only one candidate adversely.

But since the machines weren't impounded immediately, there was opportunity to cover up.
However the number of machines likely hacked/glitched means that there may still be a chance to determine what caused the problem. Does anyone know the extent to which the machines status has been safeguarded?

does anyone know the extent that they are now being safeguarded?

[philb]

4. One concern about what I heard today; can anyone clarify?

I heard that because of the Jennings court action, the machine audit has been postponed until at least next Monday.
However I also heard that next Monday is also the day that the State SOS (or SOE) must certify the election.
That means the audit will apparently not be completed before the winner is certified. This seems like a big problem.
What happens in such case. Another court challenge before the certification is done? or afterward?

[kster]

5. Kick..nt

[kster]

6. kick..nt