Yesterday, a recount in Montana’s state house district 12 showed a tie between Rick Jore, the Constitution Party candidate, and his Democratic opponent. Jore accepts the recount as fair, but the Democrat does not.
This creates a wild and confusing situation. A tie would result in a “vacancy,” allowing the Governor to choose the winner. The current Governor is a Republican, but she will be succeeded by a Democrat next month. The disputed seat is the deciding vote in a split legislature: if Jore wins, the Republicans will control the State House. If the Democrat wins, the State House will be tied and the Speaker of the House will be chosen by the same party as the incoming Governor, a Democrat.
Democratic candidate Jeanne Windham went to court yesterday and received an injunction blocking the Secretary of State from certifying the election and blocking the Governor from appointing a winner.
Judge Dorothy McCarter will hold a hearing on the issue December 10. In addition, Democrat Windham said she intends to file a separate legal action asking state courts to throw out five disputed ballots. On each of the disputed ballots, voters made marks for both Jore and the Republican in the race, Jack Cross. Lake County election officials and the local recount board, however, decided to count the votes for Jore. They said marks on the ballot indicated the voters intended to vote for Jore. On four of the ballots, the voters also marked an “X” on Cross’s name. On a fifth ballot, the voter placed a squiggly line next to Cross’s name. Windham and state Democratic officials said if it’s not clear which candidate the voters are choosing, state law requires the ballot to be thrown out. If any of these ballots are disqualified, Windham wins the race. Chuck Denowh, executive director of the Montana Republican Party, said Windham’s claim is “pretty frivolous,” and that he thinks voters who cast the disputed ballots clearly intended to choose Jore.
The stupid bitch claims that 5 ballots were illegally counted for Jore, even though he won a machine recount TWICE. She is trying to steal the election by taking it to court. I believe that she will be successful.
I’m glad to see the Constitution Party’s misogynistic nature laid bare so clearly.
Come now, Eric. BDW does not claim to speak for the Constitution Party.
Consider, instead, Jore’s behavior and response to Windham’s claims: “Jore accepts the recount as fair…” even though, as BDW points out, Mr. Jore has already won thrice.
Elections have apparently become a best-of-seven series. Jore is up 3-0-1 having won the original election, the provisional votes, the first recount, and gaining a tie in the second recount.
Jore has not already won three times, or any times–they are counting the same ballots. That “he already won” nonsense is just a talking point, designed to end serious discussions.
The real issue is why the numbers come up different every time. Our elections are a mess. It is inexcusable that we don’t have a system in which we can get an accurate count for every election the first time through.
As far as this particular election goes, I wish I could see the contested ballots myself. I’m having a hard time picturing a ballot, with an X by each of two candidates in a race, that somehow clearly indicates a choice for only one of the two.
Eric, I am a republican who voted for Jack Cross, though I would have voted for Jore had I known he would come in third.
The Democrats are just greedy for more power – that’s all this is about. Jeanne Windbag is a sick frustrated b*tch. I recommend she take the next bus to Canada to join the rest of her liberal slime ilk.
As for you Andrew, get your facts straight. The 5 votes were filled in for both Cross and Jore; however, Cross’s name was X’ed or scribbled out, but with an oval clearly filled in for Jore. Erasers are not provided in the voting booth. The intent is clear.
By the way, Jeanne’s next tactic is to delay the whole deal in court until the new Demofascist governor takes over. That way the tie will be broken by him instead of the sitting Republican.
Ultimately, my district will go weeks without any representation. See? The Democrats are FASCISTS.
Perhaps Montanans will consider approval or instant runoff voting in the future. This sort of thing would not happen again! I suspect more alternative candidates would get elected as well which I think would be a good thing.
bitch, fascist, slime… glad you can discuss this so rationally, BDW.