Virginia: 668 VOTERS POSSIBLY GIVEN WRONG BALLOT IN HD-28

[RandySF]

RICHMOND, Va. – Virginia House Democrats this morning held a press call with House Democratic Leader David J. Toscano and attorney Marc Elias of Perkins Coie to discuss an issue with precincts split between the 28th and 88th Districts, which may have resulted in 668 miscast votes.

Although Virginia Code outlines precinct 401 as the only split precinct between the two districts, unofficial election results show that the City of Fredericksburg split three precincts – 201, 401 and 402.

The 668 votes cast in precincts 201 and 402 that should have been cast in House District 28 were instead cast in House District 88. There are currently 82 votes separating Joshua Cole and his Republican opponent.

“Every person should have the opportunity to vote for the legislator who will represent him or her,” said Elias. “We believe people – both Democrats and Republicans – were denied that right in House District 28. We are committed to doing whatever it takes to make sure that every vote is counted and every voice is heard.”

Perkins Coie has submitted a letter to the State Board of Elections expressing concern and seeking more information surrounding the potential 668 miscast ballots. The Virginia House Democratic Caucus and Joshua Cole campaign will assess further action pending a response from the State Board.

Separate from the issue with split precincts, a federal lawsuit was also filed yesterday in Alexandria on behalf of the Joshua Cole Campaign. The suit demands that the approximately 55 absentee ballots erroneously excluded from this year’s election be counted in accordance with the U.S. Constitution and other applicable law.

“Do not let Republicans try to fool you – a Democratic majority in the House of Delegates is still very much in play,” said Toscano. “Yes, Tuesday was a referendum on Richmond Republicans, but that referendum isn’t finished just yet. We will continue to stand tall in the fight for a better Virginia.”

House Democrats won at least 15 seats last week in a wave election, bringing our current numbers to 49. In addition to HD-28, HD-40 and HD-94 also remain in recount territory. The majority is in play.


http://www.vahousedems.org/press/new-668-voters-possibly-given-wrong-ballot-hd-28

[Angry Dragon]

1. needs to be fixed

[unc70]

2. Why were those precincts split?

This unlawful splitting of two precincts apparently goes back a couple of cycles. How and why would these districts be split?

[MagickMuffin]

7. As a Precinct Chair in Texas, this happens all the time here

There are a lot of reasons the Election Admins do this.

1) sometimes it involves not enough poll workers to run a location.

2) sometimes they decide it is easier to run them from one location saves them $$$$$.

I have had over 6 precincts I had to make sure that the ballots were posted by using name plates for each one. I also make sure that they select the correct ballot.

Of course since we have electronic machines as well as paper ballots, I have no idea if the electronic machines have this issue.

[unc70]

8. My question was a bit different

I understand why, in general, a single precinct can have voters that can vote in different contests and that the particulars can change from one election to the next. Locally, that precinct can be divided by town boundaries, school districts, commissioner districts, state and federal house districts, overlay districts, etc. It is a real administrative mess, compounded by county-wide early voting and same day registration.

My question is why and how did it happen that they used the wrong ballots and why did no one seem to notice that the legal district maps did not match the ballots they received. Or were there touch screens in use.

So why were they split if they were not supposed to be split?

[Vinca]

3. Democrats need to fight like hell. Don't let the GOP get away with stealing elections any more.

[underpants]

4. I have a co-worker who works at the polls and has worked at a split district

She said that there's a noticeable stop-slowdown per voter to make sure they vote in the right House and Senate election. The people working at the Stafford precinct clearly didn't have a good system.

[Baitball Blogger]

5. Voters should not be penalized for the incompetence of the elections office.

This one is easy.

[uponit7771]

6. The fact ReTrumplicans are fighting this by cheating means VA means something big