Reply #14: Ohio Voters Challenge Recount Results [View All]

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Ohio Voters Challenge Recount Results
By Tracy L. Scott, BET.com Staff Writer


Posted Dec. 30, 2004 –After months of legal battles and accusations of illegal voter tampering in the controversial battleground state, the recount of the Ohio ballots ended Tuesday declaring President Bush the victor, but by a smaller margin than originally thought.

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“You’re allowing the original error to be repeated a second time, so it’s not a meaningful recount,” said Cliff Arnebeck, a lawyer representing voters who are challenging the results of the recount.

Hanging chads and other problems resulted in many discarded ballots on Nov. 2. However, those ballots were part of the recount. With the inclusion of those, both Kerry and Bush picked up more votes.

However, advocacy groups – complaining that deliberate misinformation, intimidation at polling places, malfunctioning voting machines and the unnecessarily long lines – argue that many poor and minority residents were barred from voting. Even a recount can’t consider ballots that were never cast, they say.

Many of these groups are hoping the Ohio Supreme Court will review the matter and rule in their favor. But Attorney General Jim Petro described the legal challenge as frivolous, saying a state court has no jurisdiction over a federal election.


Link:
http://www.bet.com/News/tlscott_ohioresults.htm?wbc_purpose=Basic&WBCMODE=PresentationUnpublished&Referrer=%7B03CE5360-2620-42CB-AD7E-77E4249C5FB7%7D