The unofficial election returns for U.S. House, Arizona 2nd district, are: Republican Martha McSally 109,704; Democratic incumbent Ron Barber 109,543. This is so close, there will be a recount. But Congressman Barber, along with some voters, have filed a federal lawsuit which argues that some legal votes were not counted. Barber v Bennett, 4:14cv-2489. It is being heard on Wedneday, November 26, by U.S. District Court Judge Cindy Jorgenson, a Bush Jr., appointee.
Some of the plaintiffs had their provisional ballots rejected because election officials felt their signatures on the provisional ballot outer envelope don’t look like their signatures on the voter registration records. When the voters attempted to submit evidence that they are the same person, they were rebuffed. The lawsuit identifies 133 voters whose votes were not counted, but should have been, in the opinion of the plaintiffs. Although the margin between the two candidates in the unofficial tally is 161 votes, since there will be a recount, each vote might matter.
There were no minor party or independent candidates on the ballot in this race. The district includes eastern Pima County and Cochise County. See this story.
Barber just might have a point about the signatures. A person’s signature changes over time. My own signature now does not resemble all that closely that of 10 years ago and not much at all that of 30 and 40 years ago.