Supposedly fiscal conservative Jane Corwin has started legal action to tie up today's special election in court before officials have even started to tally ballots.
The Buffalo News reports that Corwin has obtained a court order barring certification of a winner even though there is no evidence to suspect any problem with the count.
It's unclear if any sort of count will proceed tonight (we'll find out as soon as we can).
Corwin's campaign issued this statement:
“We have anticipated a very close election from the start, and the action taken today is standard procedure and very typical in close campaigns. Our campaign’s goal is to ensure that every legal vote cast is properly counted accurately and fairly.”
UPDATE 7:14 p.m.: I just spoke with Dick Seibert at the Board of Elections, and in between being harried with other tasks, he explained that all machine-cast ballots can be counted and unofficial results can be released, but the court order has barred the board of elections from opening absentee ballots. The board also cannot release results from -- though they can count -- emergency ballots. Emergency ballots are those being printed on copy machines this evening because of heavier than anticipated voter turnout. So far, 200 emergency ballots have been printed, but more as a precaution, Seibert explained, because polling places, while getting low on ballots, had not run out yet.
Well this race just got that
Well this race just got that much more interesting! Thanks for the update Howard!
Any word on the turn out from
Any word on the turn out from Genesee County yet Howard?
Believes in fiscal restraint?
Believes in fiscal restraint? Won't waste taxpayer money?
Jeremiah, Dick said turnout
Jeremiah, Dick said turnout has been heavier than anticipated.
Ward 2 had light turnout at
Ward 2 had light turnout at 4:30pm when I voted. Less than 50 voters when I showed up.
Gotta love apathy. We get the government we deserve.
Ms. Corwin felt the pressure
Ms. Corwin felt the pressure I was putting on this race and did the only thing she could.
While at the board of
While at the board of elections, it sounded like they were saying there was a post-work hour rush. Let's hope that's accurate.
Boy does this smell like Karl
Boy does this smell like Karl Rove or what?
http://www.politico.com/blogs/davidcatanese/0511/Corwin_camp_obtains_co…
If they start finding car
If they start finding car trunks full of ballots you'll know something is up.
Sore loser.
Sore loser.
Well Mike hopefully other
Well Mike hopefully other wards turned out in higher numbers. When I was there at 3:00 I think i was number 42.