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<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Another group of people who cannot make a mark on
paper! How embarrassing! </FONT></DIV>
<BLOCKQUOTE
style="PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; BORDER-LEFT: #000000 2px solid; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px">
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial">----- Original Message ----- </DIV>
<DIV
style="BACKGROUND: #e4e4e4; FONT: 10pt arial; font-color: black"><B>From:</B>
<A title=thansen@moscow.com href="mailto:thansen@moscow.com">Tom Hansen</A>
</DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>To:</B> <A title=vision2020@moscow.com
href="mailto:vision2020@moscow.com">vision2020@moscow.com</A> </DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Sent:</B> Monday, November 22, 2004 4:22
PM</DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Subject:</B> [Vision2020] And in Washington
State . . .</DIV>
<DIV><BR></DIV>
<DIV class=Section1>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Copied and pasted from todays
(November 22, 2004) Moscow-Pullman Daily News <o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">------------------------------------------------------------------------------<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Judge denies request that ballots
not be counted <o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Associated
Press<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on"><FONT face=Arial
size=2><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">SEATTLE</SPAN></FONT></st1:place></st1:City><FONT
face=Arial size=2><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"> - A
federal judge has denied the Republican Party's bid to force one of the
state's most heavily Democratic counties to stop counting some ballots in the
recount of the extremely close race for governor.
<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">In a conference call Sunday with
lawyers, U.S. District Judge Marsha Pechman denied the state GOP's request for
a temporary restraining order barring King County from hand-counting ballots
that optical scanning machines reject because they can't be read
electronically. <o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Republican state Chairman Chris
Vance, noting that the lawsuit continues, said Pechman's decision dealt with
only one aspect of the case. He said the decision was based on <st1:place
w:st="on"><st1:PlaceName w:st="on">King</st1:PlaceName> <st1:PlaceType
w:st="on">County</st1:PlaceType></st1:place>'s assurance that all ballots in
question were being kept separate from the others so they can be reviewed if
any mistakes are made. <o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">''We don't believe <st1:place
w:st="on"><st1:PlaceName w:st="on">King</st1:PlaceName> <st1:PlaceType
w:st="on">County</st1:PlaceType></st1:place>,'' Vance said. ''Our observers
have watched. Ballots are being altered. And we don't believe they are being
set aside.'' <o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">State Democratic Party Chairman
Paul Berendt praised the judge's ruling as ''a good decision.''
<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">''It's good for voters because
it's consistent with the standard we would like to see - that every vote be
counted,'' Berendt said. <o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">After all counties reported their
tallies Wednesday, Republican Dino Rossi led Democrat Christine Gregoire for
governor by 261 votes out of some 2.8 million ballots cast. State law requires
a machine recount when the margin is less than 2,000 votes.
<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">The recount began in a handful of
counties Saturday, continued Sunday and was expected to wrap up by Wednesday.
So far, <st1:PlaceName w:st="on">Klickitat</st1:PlaceName> <st1:PlaceType
w:st="on">County</st1:PlaceType> in southwest <st1:State w:st="on"><st1:place
w:st="on">Washington</st1:place></st1:State> has been the only one to post
results, giving Rossi one more vote in results released Saturday.
<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Pechman agreed to rule on the
lawsuit filed Saturday on an emergency basis. The case was reassigned to U.S.
District Judge Ricardo Martinez on Monday morning, and Republicans were hoping
to get an afternoon hearing, Rossi spokeswoman <st1:Street
w:st="on"><st1:address w:st="on">Mary Lane</st1:address></st1:Street> said.
<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Republicans sued Secretary of
State Sam Reed and the <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:PlaceName
w:st="on">King</st1:PlaceName> <st1:PlaceType
w:st="on">County</st1:PlaceType></st1:place>'s election division on Saturday,
arguing that ballots the machines can't count should be excluded from the
recount because they have to be checked by hand. <o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">''This constitutes a clear
violation of hundreds of thousands of <st1:State
w:st="on">Washington</st1:State> voters' right to equal protection under the
<st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">United
States</st1:place></st1:country-region> and Washington State Constitutions,''
the lawsuit stated. <o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><st1:place w:st="on"><st1:PlaceName w:st="on"><FONT
face=Arial size=2><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">King</SPAN></FONT></st1:PlaceName><FONT
face=Arial size=2><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">
<st1:PlaceType w:st="on">County</st1:PlaceType></SPAN></FONT></st1:place><FONT
face=Arial size=2><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"> voters
use paper ballots that are optically scanned. The Republicans' lawsuit said
most of the state's 39 counties use optical scanners while 14 use the
punchcard system. Rossi got a majority of votes in 11 of those punchcard
counties, while Gregoire led in <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:PlaceName
w:st="on">King</st1:PlaceName> <st1:PlaceType
w:st="on">County</st1:PlaceType></st1:place>, the lawsuit said.
<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">King County Elections
Superintendent Bill Huennekens said the recount is being handled scrupulously,
with observers from each party watching closely. <o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">''In an election this close, each
side has an interest in pressuring and advancing their issues and concerns,
and we have a duty ... to conduct the recount according to law and our
long-standing established policies and procedures,'' Huennekens said.
<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Republicans complained Sunday that
Huennekens refused to send at least one ballot to a canvassing board for
review, even though the bubble next to Rossi's name was clearly filled in,
with only a small mark next to Gregoire's name. Huennekens said the mark
actually was made in the Gregoire bubble, which made it an ''overvote'' that
can't be counted toward either candidate's total.
<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">A former Democratic precinct
committee officer in <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:PlaceName
w:st="on">Mason</st1:PlaceName> <st1:PlaceName
w:st="on">County</st1:PlaceName></st1:place>, Huennekens scoffed at
Republicans' suggestion that he was letting politics taint the process. ''I'm
not a PCO anymore and I conduct elections in a nonpartisan manner according to
state law,'' he said. <o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Among other complaints,
Republicans said a box of ballots that was supposed to be sealed was found
unsealed and had 201 ballots - two more than a receipt on the box said it
should have had. <o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Dean Logan, King County's
elections director, said such discrepancies occur occasionally, and that in
any such case, the box is set aside and counted again to make sure it has the
right number of ballots.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P></DIV>
<P>
<HR>
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