 Dec. 22, 2004 Supreme Court rules King County can keep countingIn a unanimous decision the Washington State Supreme Court today ruled that state law gives county canvassing boards the discretion to correct discrepancies in election returns. The decision lifts the temporary restraining order issued Friday, Dec. 17 by the Pierce County Superior Court and allows the King County canvassing board the discretion to consider up to 735 previously uncounted ballots. “Today’s decision by the Supreme Court is a victory for voters whose ballots were not counted through no fault of their own,” said Dean Logan, director of Records, Elections and Licensing Service. “This leaves no room for doubt that county canvassing boards have the discretion to correct administrative discrepancies in an election - a fundamental responsibility in a democratic elections process.” The Next StepTomorrow, the King County Canvassing Board will convene at 10 a.m. to rule on how to treat this group of ballots not included in King County’s original election returns. Should the three-person canvassing board decide to include the ballots in the official manual recount results, staff will first verify voters’ signatures, then separate ballots from the return and security envelopes, and finally prepare valid ballots for tabulation before counting and certifying the results of the manual recount. “This process will take time; however, democracy is worth the wait,” said Logan. “I assure voters this process will be done in the same open and transparent process with which we have conducted this entire election.” The canvassing board will meet a second time tomorrow at 3 p.m. to certify the final recount returns – including any additional ballots counted as a result of the Supreme Court decision. Both meetings will be held in the King County Council Chambers located in the King County Courthouse. Unofficial results of King County’s manual recount will be posted today as scheduled at 3:30 p.m. at http://www.metrokc.gov/elections/ |
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Updated: Dec. 22, 2004 King County | Elections | News | Services | Comments | Search
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