||| BY LIN MCNULTY, EDITOR |||
As first reported in the Dec. 4 Orcasonian, a manual recount of ballots cast for Governor in the Orcas East Precinct has been requested by San Juan County Republicans. San Juan County has therefore been directed by the Secretary of State to recount the votes cast.
The San Juan County Canvassing Board has scheduled the recount to begin at the San Juan County Elections Office on December 10, 2020, at 9 a.m. The recount is expected to be completed that day. The San Juan County Canvassing Board is then scheduled to certify the recount on December 11, 2020, at 3 p.m.
“The method currently used by the auditor’s elections department for the post election ballot audit shows the random batches compared to the total amount. However, it does not show the comparable in each precinct,” explains Republican State Committee Woman Cindy Carter. “Given that the “random batches” used in the audit show Trump votes within 80% of Biden votes while the final ballot results show Trump is around 30% of Biden in the total counts, it appears questionable.”
The counting machines used in San Juan County are the same as used in Michigan and Pennsylvania where the Trump re-election campaign has been filing court cases alleging questionable activity. Because of this and the considerable excitement that the gubernatorial Republican candidate Loren Culp observed during his campaign, Culp has been insistent about his refusal to concede. While threatening legal action over allegations of voter fraud, the Republicans believe his counts should be higher. “We are not alleging any fraud,” adds Carter, “but would like this verification. This counting will verify the accuracy of the SJC counting machines.”
Because of space restrictions, the number of in-person observers is limited to only one per party. However, the recount and the Canvassing Board meeting will be livestreamed on the San Juan County Elections YouTube Channel.
The cost of the recount, expected to be about $2,000, will be born by the requestor unless the recount overturns the results in which case the taxpayers will reimburse the County.
I’m as Republican as they come, actually, an independent, But lets move on folks. I’m not a Biden fan, voted as hard as I could. But welcoming change.
Lets put our energy in what’s next. And.. let get to it!!
Enough of the devision, lets make the difference!!
Sorry but Enough!! Lets move on!!
This is Orcas Island, an extremely left leaning area that has historically voted overwhelmingly for candidates from the Democratic party. The random audit percentage is clearly a statistical anomaly. Anybody who seriously thinks that Trump received votes within 80% of Biden’s votes has clearly no grasp on reality. Or, they know well the reality, but are trying to suck up to their party bosses at a higher level. Neither of these possibilities is very attractive.
Good for you, Cindy Carter. Absolutely no harm done performing a recount. We need more checks and balances of our voting system nation-wide, especially this cycle. It’s about election integrity, and right now audits and recounts are the few options we have until we can fix this broken national election system where states are all doing it different ways. The recount in SJC won’t change the result, but it’s a harmless confirmation process to help ensure the process is working like it should. Much praise Cindy Carter!
If you happen to have an extra $2,000….
The assertion that our national election system is broken has not been backed up by any facts. Elections are under state jurisdiction like many other constitutional powers delegated to the states. That alone does not make our national election system broken. Now if you want to talk about the inequity of the Senate representation, that’s another issue.
No harm done unless someone catches Covid-19 in the process of recounting.
It’s a broken system by the very FACT that our national elections are handled by states who all do it a different way. National elections should be on a separate ballot and all handled the same way. Period.
Absent a Constitutional amendment, US citizens actually vote for slates of electors in each state, not directly for the candidates listed on their ballots or voting machines. And the winning slates of electors then cast their ballots for the president and vice president on December 14. The states have been delegated the rights to determine how their respective elections shall occur—for example, by paper ballots in WA. This is one aspect of states’ rights, which I had thought Republicans largely favored, at least until recently.
Dale, May I suggest to you that you read the constitution. The states are tasked with the responsibility of elections. The hows are not defined. Therefore, it is the states that must decide how an election is to be done. Yes, it would be good if there was more consistency, but that would require all the states to agree on a common method, which is unlikely, or a constitutional amendment. To claim that a candidate lost an election because different states handle elections differently is not a reasonable statement to make, and it certainly isn’t evidence of fraud.
I haven’t found much that “Dale Farrick” posts to be reasonable, Jim. The fact that s/he has to capitalize “fact” to make something seem like a fact is a good illustration.
the GOP’s war against democracy is not going to go away. Sad to see that Orcas is not immune. This is all about sewing doubt in democratic representation, and has no other purpose.
It’s fine, just procedural, and paid for by the loser of the case, if the article is correct.
Wow you all completely miss the point. If all states are not doing national elections the exact same way, you end up with discrepancies and questions. And in a tight race, those discrepancies matter. This is where we are now. Just like Riordan would not recount because of covid, states like GA, PA, etc. ignored their state and federal election laws “because of covid” and made last minute, illegal changes to their election process. AG Paxton’s suit is absolutely valid. Why should the vote for someone’s candidate be diluted by the illegal actions of another state? This is a major constitutional issue. Using covid as an excuse to change the way the election process normally happens, and replace that system with an untested one, is not OK. There should be one national system that all states must follow for national elections. War against democracy? Very ironic. Republicans simply demand that election laws are followed so that our democracy stays in tact. What Democrats have done in this election cycle is very much a war against democracy and the democratic process.
P.S., Riordan, what happened to PNA? I feel so special. Phil, check it out!
Have you ever read the Constitution,. Dale? To impose a national system would require changing the text.
States could agree to do so *voluntarily* of course. There seems to be movement in that direction with the National Popular Vote Interstate Compact, for example. And even that may conflict with the Compact Clause of Article I, Section X…
Paxton’s (attempt to get a pardon) suit is largely against republican-controlled state legislators, not democrats. Texas has no standing to do this. We all agreed to not mess with Texas, but now Texas is messing with us!
Isn’t it interesting folks, how the Trumpists have to concoct their own make-believe universe when reality smacks them in the face and resoundingly rejects their Dear Leader? As the former Republican governor of Ohio, John Kasich — a very reasonable and highly respected man — put it this morning on CNN, the Trumpublican Party has become “morally bankrupt.”
In a way, we are fortunate to have islanders like “Dale Farrick” to illustrate the moral bankruptcy occurring in much of ‘Merica. Or is s/he really an islander? Hard to tell when someone comments under a fake name. But I fully understand why s/he does.
Dale Farrick writes ” … states like GA, PA, etc. ignored their state and federal election laws “because of covid” and made last minute, illegal changes to their election process.” Could you perhaps point us to the court finding which found these changes illegal? Otherwise you are simply regurgitating misinformation. I believe Trump and his enablers and sycophants are now something like 1 for 50 in the numerous, “see what sticks” challenges which they have undertaken (at the expense of those so gullible enough to believe this grifter).
“Each State shall appoint, in such Manner as the Legislature thereof may direct, a Number of Electors,….” Thus the federal constitutional duty to appoint Electors resides solely with the respective state legislators. State constitutional officers and subordinate officials have no standing to change, for any reason, the manner of appointment defined by legislative action. The fact that some have done so is the legal challenge being brought.
Our Constitution is held by SCOTUS to be a covenant between the states, thus a breach of that covenant may give standing before SCOTUS to other states to seek remedy for harm resulting from usurpation of process. Texas, joined by 17 other states (at this writing) has done so, underscoring the gravity of our current constitutional crisis and illuminating the partisan nature of the foregoing comments that seek to trivialize what may be the failure of mankinds most Noble Experiment
Ms. Treener, We are a Constitutional Republic. Our Senate, by design, is an assembly providing equal standing to each state. How is this inequity? The people’s assembly, based on population distribution, is the House of Representatives and that’s as close as you get to direct democracy (mob rule) at the national level.
Oh the irony astounds! Riordan, I am morally bankrupt because I want election laws followed? Wow, that’s rich, even coming from you. One might make the argument that YOU are morally bankrupt if you accept election results KNOWING election laws were violated. And not knowing by way of ignorance is not an excuse. Mainstream media won’t cover it, so you need to go find it for yourself or from honest platforms who still value impartial journalism. Kenn, just because a court doesn’t make an official ruling doesn’t mean laws were not violated. Courts have all kinds of reasons for not taking up cases. But to give you examples of laws violated, they are all spelled out in the Texas AG suit including these states doing away with signature verification without legislative approval, poll watchers being denied access, distribution of unsolicited absentee ballots without legislative approval, and many other violations of election laws. I would provide links, but my posts often get censored on this site when I do so. So we know laws were violated and circumvented. Now whether any court wants to hear it, or feels it will make a difference, is another story. But you can’t get around the fact that laws were violated in these states. And that is why the vast majority of Republicans, half of independents, and a significant percentage of democrats are saying they do not have complete faith in the election results. And don’t pretend that you all wouldn’t be doing the exact same thing Republicans are if the roles were reversed. We simply want election laws followed and a system that is more consistent with less opportunity for fraud. Who can possibly disagree?
“I am patient with stupidity, but not those who are proud of it.” Edith Sitwell
Well said, Harvey. I agree.
It is fascinating to see that the madness has leaked into even our isolated community. Good data!
So, “Dale…” The Texas AG, who is awaiting indictment as a felon, decides that Texas can intervene in the elections of other states? As has been mentioned, you might find it helpful to review our Constitution. Has there been any case in which one of our states has been granted “standing” to attack the voting procedures in other states? Please cite examples. Trump lost by ca. 7 million votes, and attempts to bypass that fact with fervent hand=waving and gnashing should be doomed to failure, even in “Trump’s” SCOTUS.
BTW, as this is intended to be a local blog, do you live in our county?
I am disgusted by the personal insults by you, Dalre Farrick, whoever you are; please stop addressing people by their last names, for starters. You are supposed to be an adult’; act like one and show some common decency.
As for the rest of this – the taxpayers will pay for this whether we “win” or “lose.” This is an attack from a governor who has a dirty record himself. Status quo. One “side” or another is usually crying over not getting their candidate in office. Now, Republicans are crying on both sides of the coin = the voters cheated, the counters cheated, the WA Elections cheated.- As long as their candidate wins they have no issue with the very thing now being called out. Do you see the hypocrisy in this?
Do you see that we the people are being used as pawns in what really is a caste and class war by big money, polluter industries, and big banks against the people? The corruption is on every level. The system is broken. I am terrified at the thought of all states doing elections the same – except for standards like paper ballots and absentee; vote by mail or dropbox, which should have been a national standard decades ago
The original constitution, without all the amendments that made things more equitable, legalized slavery, no voting or rights for blacks, women, and Indigenous peoples, breaking every treaty with Tribes on both ceded and unceded lands – Our history is dark. Two senators for each state is one of those “equitable” things full of iniquity. It should go by population in terms of how many senators a state gets. Or we should throw out the electoral system, go to Ranked Choice voting, and try to educate a population who thinks one of these corporate parties is better than the other. They’re not, at heart – only their methods in suppressing the people and fomenting division, differ.
Sadie, curious how you pick me out for being insulting, yet you overlook those in this thread who actually were as I have been called “stupid, morally bankrupt, gullible.” And for what?
Because I want election laws followed and a more consistent national election system? Somehow I think your disgust has more to do with the fact that I have a dissenting view than anything else. The mob is alive and well on Orcas (always has been).
Now that s/he has been blocked from further commenting, we can all thankfully PNA to “Dale Farrick.”
And the recount found absolutely no evidence of electoral fraud. As in the rest of ‘Merica.
PNA? peptide nucleic acid? Huh.