Murphy (NY-20) Picks Up 198 Votes As County Fixes Errors

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http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2009/04/murphy-picks-up-198-votes-as-county-fixes-errors.php

Murphy Picks Up 198 Votes As County Fixes Errors
By Eric Kleefeld - April 3, 2009, 5:15PM


A few moments ago we posted that the state's totals in NY-20 showed Democrat Scott Murphy and Republican Jim Tedisco were exactly tied, at 77,225 votes each. But no longer -- in the latest numbers from one county, Scott Murphy has picked up a net 198 votes.

The Albany Project first reported that Murphy had picked up the votes in Washington County, and I have now confirmed it with Donna English, the Republican election commissioner in the county. (Counties in New York have both Dem and GOP election commissioners, working together.)

English also confirmed that these numbers are more recent than the state's current figures. The process is still ongoing, with Washington County only about two-thirds of the way done double-checking the numbers from all their precincts, and other counties also still hard at work. We also have not yet seen any absentee ballots counted.

Remember that this is a normal procedure, caused by human errors in entering the numbers at precincts during the rush of Election Night. The errors are usually pretty small and inconsequential -- but this one could potentially seal the deal for Murphy. On the other hand, there could very well be a similar error out that is hiding a big chunk of votes for Tedisco. So let's wait and see.