Democrats Threaten Recount Lawsuit

December 3, 2004
 
By Matt Markovich KOMO-TV News

SEATTLE - There's a new twist in what appears to be a never-ending governor's race.

Attorneys for Christine Gregoire are threatening to sue the state unless votes thrown out in the two previous count are counted this time around.

The threat comes in the form of a letter sent by the law firm of Perkins Coie, which represents the Washington State Democratic Party to Secretary of State Sam Reed.

In the letter, attorney David Burman asks Reed for a clarification of the Secretary of State's guidelines in a possible hand recount. Burman writes that "ballots previously rejected by canvassing boards or election staff should be reviewed again."

Burman cites Washington state law as saying in a recount, "county canvassing board conduct a recount of 'all votes cast' ", not just votes tallied in the last recount.

If not, Burman goes on to write, "Pre-recount litigation is an option, but we hope that your office will do everything possible to keep that from becoming necessary."

Gregoire lost to Republican Dino Rossi by 42 votes in the last state mandated machine recount. But Democrats believe there are more votes to be salvaged.

In King County alone, a Gregoire stronghold, elections officials tell KOMO News there are 1561 absentee signature mismatches, 502 absentee ballots with no signature and 415 signature mismatches on provisional ballots. All of the votes were rejected in the last recount, but would be revisited if the Democrats get their wish via this letter.

A spokesperson for the Secretary of State tells KOMO 4 News that "the merits of the letter are unfounded."

Meanwhile, the Gregoire camp got a nice gift Thursday in it's efforts to raise $750,000 to pay for a statewide hand recount. John Kerry's campaign has donated $250,000 to the cause. As of Thursday night, Gregoire officials have raised $650,000