|
|
Article: Preparing for a recount.(Campaign Doctor)
- Article from:
- Campaigns & Elections
- Article date:
- September 1, 2004
- Author:
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2004 Campaigns & Elections, Inc. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
|
What precautions should we take for a recount?
Background: Recounts or contested elections are very rare (only 1 percent of all elections) and require evidence of error, irregularities or wrongdoing, and a close enough margin so that disputed votes would have altered the outcome. Errors include transposed numbers, faulty equipment, mutilated punch cards and computer glitches. Irregularities include multiple signatures in the same handwriting, uncounted ballots, invalid absentee votes, interrupted polling hours, and voter intimidation or suppression. In rare instances when fraud or error is proven, the outcome may be a new election. But in most cases, winners ...