Cobb-LaMarche campaign thanks everyone for recount donations!

[mdb]

http://www.commondreams.org/news2004/1115-06.htm

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
NOVEMBER 15, 2004
12:46 PM
CONTACT: Green Party of the United States
Blair Bobier, Media Director, 541-929-5755

Recount in Ohio A Sure Thing; Green Party Campaign Raises $150,000 in 4 Days, Shifts Gears to Phase II

WASHINGTON -- November 15 -- There will be a recount of the presidential vote in Ohio.


On Thursday, David Cobb, the Green Party’s 2004 presidential candidate, announced his intention to seek a recount of the vote in Ohio. Since the required fee for a statewide recount is $113,600, the only question was whether that money could be raised in time to meet the filing deadline. That question has been answered.


“Thanks to the thousands of people who have contributed to this effort, we can say with certainty that there will be a recount in Ohio,” said Blair Bobier, Media Director for the Cobb-LaMarche campaign.


“The grassroots support for the recount has been astounding. The donations have come in fast and furiously, with the vast majority in the $10-$50 range, allowing us to meet our goal for the first phase of the recount effort in only four days,” said Bobier.


Bobier said the campaign is still raising money for the next phase of the recount effort which will be recruiting, training and mobilizing volunteers to monitor the actual recount.


The Ohio presidential election was marred by numerous press and independent reports of mis-marked and discarded ballots, problems with electronic voting machines and the targeted disenfranchisement of African American voters. A number of citizens’ groups and voting rights organizations are holding the second of two hearings today in Columbus, Ohio, to take testimony from voters, poll watchers and election experts about problems with the Ohio vote. The hearing, from 6-9 p.m., will be held at the

Courthouse, meeting room A, 373 S. High St., in Columbus. The Cobb-LaMarche campaign will be represented at the hearing by campaign manager Lynne Serpe.


A demand for a recount in Ohio can only be filed by a presidential candidate who was either a certified write-in candidate or on the ballot in that state. Both Green Party candidate David Cobb and Libertarian candidate Michael Badnarik will be demanding a recount. No other candidate has stated an intention to seek a recount and no other citizen or organization would have legal standing to do so in Ohio. The Cobb-LaMarche campaign is still exploring the possibility of seeking recounts in other states but no decision has been made yet.

[ncrainbowgrrl]

1. kick

Glad that this is happening, proud to have donated to the cause

[Spazito]

2. Awesome!

The people who donated to this are true patriots, imo! As a Canadian, I could not donate but was keeping my fingers and toes crossed that it would happen! WTG!

[flpoljunkie]

3. Will a recount include the uncounted 92,672 "spoiled" punch card ballots?

[crispini]

4. IIRC the 93,000 were not "spoiled"

they were undervotes. Big diff. And I believe, yes, they do get counted. And will probably add to the Kerry vote total. Significantly.

[flpoljunkie]

5. "Spoiled" not my description. Agree they will indeed help Kerry.

Although I understand some "red" counties also use punch cards.

In any case, every vote must be counted in Ohio.

[crispini]

6. Hm, where did you read that they were "spoiled" ?

because I think that would be different from undervoted. My elections department uses the term "spoiled" to refer to a ballot that has been misvoted and turned back in by the voter at the polling place and the voter has then been issued a new ballot. We write "VOID" on them and send them back to the office.