How NH is dealing with the recount results

[slacker921]

This article (http://www.nashuatelegraph.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080406/COLUMNISTS12/213410867/-1/columnists) - has a nice mention of how the folks in New Hampshire are dealing with the horrible excuse for a ballot "paper trail" they have.

If you aren't familiar with the issues raised in the recount then please dig around and find the photos of the boxes used to transport the paper ballots.. and remember that without 100% guarantee that the paper ballots haven't been tampered with there is no way to ensure that the electronic count was accurate.

[LizF]

Wow :eek: :mad: :rolleyes:


Thanks for calling this to our attention.

Some highlights from the article:



Both recounts led to a flurry of sometimes hysterical, Internet-driven charges that New Hampshire’s ballot custody standards somehow left the state ripe for abuse. Secretary of State Bill Gardner has supported a late-emerging amendment to raise the bar for a recount request. It would be added to a measure (SB 492) dealing with filling vacancies on primary ballots.

Sen. Jackie Cilley, D-Barrington, sought the bill, which allows the party to fill a vacancy if a candidate jumps from one office sought to another that’s also vacant.
Cilley did just that, recruited at the eleventh hour to drop her bid for the House in 2006 and instead to run for the Senate seat she now holds.

Originally, the thought was to permit only those who get at least 25 percent of the vote to seek a recount. This was lowered to 9 percent, but only for presidential candidates, because that’s the threshold for candidates to get delegate votes.
Rep. Shawn Jasper, R-Hudson, is squarely behind the change and is optimistic both parties will embrace this reform.

“It’s just ridiculous how much time and effort Bill’s office had to engage in to satisfy the ludicrous recount requests we had,’’ Jasper said. “This sets an appropriate standard any candidate has to meet to be considered credible enough to get a recount.’’