Democrat Gains as Absentee Ballots Counted in New York

[babylonsister]

http://www.cqpolitics.com/wmspage.cfm?parm1=5&docID=news-000003095547

Democrat Gains as Absentee Ballots Counted in New York
By Emily Cadei, CQ Staff


Democrat Scott Murphy made gains in New York’s special House election as the first counties completed their absentee ballot tallies Thursday.

With approximately 20 percent of absentee ballots counted, Murphy, a first-time candidate, was ahead by eight votes.

The contest to replace Democrat Kirsten Gillibrand after she was appointed to the Senate, was too close to call on election night. Since then, the lead has fluctuated between Murphy and Republican opponent Jim Tedisco as the 10 counties in the 20th Congressional District completed a re-canvass of their machine totals.

All re-canvassing is now complete, and four counties are done counting regular absentee ballots. Ballots sent to military addresses overseas can take longer to arrive, and won’t be counted until after April 13.

Though the vote spread is tiny and the outcome still too close to call, Murphy’s gains were notable because they came in counties where Tedisco, a longtime New York assemblyman, was ahead on election night.

According to preliminary totals released by the New York Board of Elections, in Renssalaer County — largest of the four counties that completed absentee counts Thursday — Tedisco was ahead by 474 votes on election night, but among absentee voters trailed by 19. Saratoga County, the district’s most populous, has not completed the count of its absentee ballots.

That will be an important count to watch because Tedisco was ahead there by 4,607 votes before the absentees were tallied.

[LynnTheDem]

1. I'm sure the republics can just get the USSC to annoint Tedisco. After all, Americans' votes

"aren't important", according to republican Coleman.

[redwitch]

3. The RNCC has Roger Stone up here. Can't imagine why.

At least Sweeney is out of the picture, he can't seem to stop DWIing.

[MarjorieG]

4. That's suspicious. Remember that with levers, we get 100% counting of votes, not to become law when

and if we get scanner technology, a concealed vote count, and 3% spot check. So far law does not favor recount or audits, which are only really necessary because of the secret count.

[redwitch]

2. It is maddening. And exciting.

Scott has to win, it would be too, too cruel if we got stuck with Tedisco. He's a creep of the first order.