Morning News: Counting

The area media stories on the race all have a different count of absentee ballots.

The Wellsville Daily Reporter pegs it at 12,000. The Democrat and Chronicle says 20,000, and WETM says "as many as" 16,900. The Corning Leader also says 16,900, which is a number it got from the Massa campaign.

In the D&C story, a Monroe County Board of Elections Supervisor says that the final tally won't be ready until November 14.

In 2006, Massa conceded as the ballots were being counted, since it soon became apparent that there was no realistic path to victory. Perhaps that will happen this year, though there's no need to rush.

By the way, in case that last post wasn't clear, I think this race is over, just as I thought the 2006 race was over on election night.

Comments

I'm confused. It's my recollection that in 2006 Eric Massa didn't want to concede until all of the absentee ballots were counted. Reading the Star Gazette story it looks like Kuhl wants a total recount of all votes and absentee ballots, a very different request. Are we waiting for the absentee ballots to be counted or will it be a full recount?

"U.S. Rep. John R. Kuhl Jr., R-Hammondsport, filed an injunction in state Supreme Court this morning asking that all voting machines and election materials in the 29th Congressional District be impounded.........Election officials from the counties across the district will appear before Judge Peter Bradstreet at 9 a.m. Nov. 12 in Bath. After that hearing, a recount of all ballots will commence."

The term "recount" is being used loosely. My understanding is that there is a re-canvass of the election machines and a first canvass of absentee ballots. That count leads to the certified election results.

New York State's election law is 638 pages long and revised every election, so take this with a grain of salt, but I'm pretty sure Kuhl hasn't asked for a recount, he's just waiting for the official canvass.