Monday, November 27, 2006

Uncounted ballots

The outcome in the two races hinges on absentee ballots that went uncounted on Election Day.

Naturally, there's always a conspiracy theory. Let's start there first.

Capitolwire, a Harrisburg Internet news service, last week cited unnamed House GOP lawmakers, who were contesting the current leadership team. They believed it might have something to do with House Speaker John Perzel trying to hold up the count and hold onto his leadership post.

"Why? Because once those ballots are counted, and the recount is done, the House GOP could be at 101, which might leave the caucus feeling surlier about voting for Perzel’s leadership slate," Capitolwire wrote.

GOP leaders called the notion phooey.

In the halls of the Chester County government building, both sides say human error is to blame.

Poll workers didn't realize or didn't know or forgot that they had to process the absentee ballots on election night. They then locked the machines, which prohibits them from doing anything more.

It's a far less intriguing explanation, I know.

2 comments:

Kevin Fitzpatrick said...

Charles...
Absentee ballots have always been at the precincts on election day, even before the precincts could count them.
I'm guessing the point is that if the voter enters the polling place, their absentee ballot can be identified and spoiled right then and there, rather than having to build in one more communication link.

Tom in Harrisburg said...

Pennsylvania law requires that absentee voters go to their polls to vote if their (travel) plans change or other (health?) factors permit them to vote in person. That is why the absentee ballots are kept at their voting place - so they can be destroyed if the voter comes in to vote in person.