District 71 recount seems a little hinky

[RecycleMichael]

For what it's worth I've known Judge Cantrell for years, argued in front of him both winning and losing, and everyone should feel comfortable with his competence.

I agree. I also think he has done a good job on this case so far. I just hope he has a chance to rule on it before it goes wrong.

[Townsend]

Okla. Supreme Court intervention sought in race

http://www.ktul.com/story/17463534/okla-supreme-court-intervention-sought-in-race?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) - The Democrat whose three-vote lead in a special election for a state House seat was overturned in a recount wants the state Supreme Court to intervene.

Democrat Dan Arthrell will ask a court referee on Monday to recommend that the court take the case.

Arthrell lost four votes in the manual recount of votes in the Tulsa race and Republican Katie Henke was certified by the county election board as the winner by one vote.

Shortly after the certification, two uncounted ballots for Arthrell were found beneath a voting machine.

Arthrell wants the court to either order that the ballots be counted or to declare that the original machine count be utilized. Either way, Arthrell would have the most votes.

That's pretty messed up even for Oklahoma.

[Conan71]

Okla. Supreme Court intervention sought in race

http://www.ktul.com/story/17463534/okla-supreme-court-intervention-sought-in-race?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter

That's pretty messed up even for Oklahoma.

Public school math.

[Townsend]

Public school math.

The County Election Board appears to be a tad one sided.

[sgrizzle]

Okla. Supreme Court intervention sought in race

"Arthrell wants the court to either order that the ballots be counted or to declare that the original machine count be utilized. Either way, Arthrell would have the most votes."

That's pretty messed up even for Oklahoma.

So wait, he wants to the judge to either count unsecured votes or certify a count that was already invalidated?

If I go to court I'm asking for Yeti's cell phone# and the verdict to be read by unicorn.

[RecycleMichael]

The facts are that the election board was missing two ballots from one precinct and went back to see why. When they found the two ballots, the election board went to the judge to rule. It wasn't either campaign that asked, it was the election board.

Either use the machine count or count all the ballots cast. Not counting ballots would be wrong.

[Conan71]

The facts are that the election board was missing two ballots from one precinct and went back to see why. When they found the two ballots, the election board went to the judge to rule. It wasn't either campaign that asked, it was the election board.

Either use the machine count or count all the ballots cast. Not counting ballots would be wrong.

With the exception of ballots cast by unqualified voters.  I believe there were some votes found from people who no longer reside in the district.

[Townsend]

With the exception of ballots cast by unqualified voters.  I believe there were some votes found from people who no longer reside in the district.

Is that information from the election board?

[Conan71]

Is that information from the election board?

That's what KRMG said the other day.  Whether or not it came from the election board or little green men flying black helicopters is beyond me.

[RecycleMichael]

Is that information from the election board?

Yes. If you are not on the voter list, you can ask for a provisional ballot. Your vote doesn't get put in the machine until the election board can determine whether or not you are still registered for that precinct. It is something that happens a lot on presidential elections but a little uncommon on smaller elections.

Arthrell lost four votes when they hand counted the ballots. The election officials found that two of them were easy to explain on precinct workers inserting a machine rejected ballot and then issuing another ballot. The machine had counted the ballot and voting again nullified the two ballots.

The election board did a fine job on this election, especially considering that they were using brand new type of machine to count. They immediately figured out the two ballots that were the result of operator error. The other two ballots had just fallen off to the side of the catch tray. After the hand count, it was suggested they look at the machines themselves that had remained locked. That is when they found the two unhand counted ballots.

Those two ballots need to be counted. Not counting them would be a travesty.  

[Townsend]

http://www.kjrh.com/dpp/news/local_news/okla-supreme-court-rules-to-invalidate-district-71-special-election

TULSA COUNTY - The Oklahoma Supreme Court has invalidated the election for House District 71, 2News has learned.

The initial results of the April 3 special election showed Dan Arthrell (D) winning against Katie Henke (R) by three votes.

A hand recount initially showed Henke ahead by one vote. Two missing ballots were later discovered, both tallied for Arthrell.

The election board says the seat will remain empty for the remainder of the legislative session, ending the last week of May.

The seat will again be contested June 26 in the primary election.

Arthrell will run unopposed as the Democratic contender -- Henke will run against Evelyn Rogers for the Republican Party nomination.

That appears to be a win for the republican side of things in district 71.

[RecycleMichael]

I am disappointed. I know both Katie and Dan a little bit and they would both be fine legislators.

Now, neither gets the job.

I think this is a terrible decision. This opens up the chance that election workers could just misplace ballots and have an election thrown out. They have the ballots in hand. Make a damn decision.

The citizens of that district have no one to represent them and there are plenty of very important issues to be decided in the next couple of weeks.

[guido911]

The citizens of that district have no one to represent them and there are plenty of very important issues to be decided in the next couple of weeks.

I hear ya Mike. Tell ya what, I'll take their place and represent that district. Settled.

[sgrizzle]

http://www.kjrh.com/dpp/news/local_news/okla-supreme-court-rules-to-invalidate-district-71-special-election

That appears to be a win for the republican side of things in district 71.

The Republican was the certified winner. Things were already in their favor.

[Townsend]

The Republican was the certified winner. Things were already in their favor.

She wouldn't have been if they hadn't "lost" two votes.  This seems to show that fraud pays.