GOP Turns Its ''Wrath'' On State Election Process

In spite of Secretary of State Sam Reed's certification of a Gregoire victory and claims from numerous sources that "vote discrepancies"--- referring to public records that show nearly 8,500 more ballots than voters in five counties-- are normal immediately after elections, "Republicans laid the groundwork Monday for a potential legal challenge to the governor's election," according to the story in tonight's P-I. Former Governor Dan Evans added his name to the list of public officials, all Republican, who want a revote. "King County election workers will allow Republican observers to watch as they try to reconcile the voter list, with results expected by the end of the week," the P-I story says. Adding to the GOP push for a revote is a story on KING5 televison tonight that offers poll results claiming 59% of "not just registered voters, but a sampling of residents across the state" want a revote. The poll also said 56% thought Rossi had won the election. While admitting that public opinion "may change again." the KING 5 story and its poll results raise the spectre of "uncertainty" about the results and fuel doubts about the accuracy of the vote count. Don't expect the spin wars to end anytime soon. Update: The P-I's Olympia beat reporter checks in Tuesday morning with "Rossi given fresh hope as 'mystery voters' grow," a headline that seems to advance the GOP story line. But the article goes on to offer explanations for the problem and quotes former Governor Dan Evans: ""Democracy may be messy, but its principles are why it still serves us best," Evans wrote for the Web site www.revotewa.com "If we screw up the implementation, let's go back to the principles. The voters' will is paramount." He proposed a special election next month. Yesterday, Evans said his appetite for a revote depends heavily on how King County answers questions about the 3,500-vote difference between voter rolls and certified ballots. "If they can explain that and there are no other significant errors, in spite of the fact of a close election, it's time to say 'OK, we'll accept it,' " Evans said." Tuesday's morning edition of the Seattle Times has, "Rossi backers push for revote." Dan Evans is quoted again: "But former Gov. Dan Evans, who lent his name and support to the group, said he doesn't think the Democratic-controlled Legislature convening next week is likely to give Rossi satisfaction. Instead, Evans said, if Republicans find credible evidence that puts the election outcome in doubt, Rossi needs to contest the election in court." The article also offers the following on the subject of the alleged discrepancies: "But election officials in three of the other counties cited by Vance said he had his facts wrong. "We hear these allegations, but no one called our county to let us know where these numbers came from," Kitsap County Auditor Karen Flynn said. Pierce and Kitsap county officials said Republicans apparently based their analysis on post-election registration lists that don't include the names of previously "inactive" voters who voted Nov. 2, or of voters whose names were taken off the registration list after voting." The KOMO News website repeats much of the material from the Seattle Times story.