Florida-style politics hits the Grassroots!!!

[hexola]

Here is something that is unfolding in my region...(south-central PA)

From a November 5 Post-election article...
http://www.publicopiniononline.com/news/stories/20031105/localnews/586828.html

"(Write-in candidate) Frank Stearn appears to have upset incumbent St. Thomas Township Supervisor David Ramer by a narrow margin in Tuesday's election -- but 58 uncounted ballots have complicated the picture.

The 58 uncounted ballots -- all from St. Thomas' biggest precinct -- could not be read by the county's vote-counting machines.

The vast majority of the 58 ballots contained Stearn write-in stickers that interfered with the machines' ability to read the information, according to Franklin County Administrator John Hart.

He said those ballots will have to be hand-counted and evaluated at the official vote count on Friday.

"There's some defect that keeps the machine from adding the totals," Hart said.

Well - now it's January 28 and it's getting worse...

http://www.publicopiniononline.com/news/stories/20040124/localnews/285583.html

Judge hears election arguments

Promising the citizens of St. Thomas Township a decision as soon as reasonably possible, Franklin County Judge Douglas Herman heard arguments Friday in a recount proceeding that will decide who is the next township supervisor.

At issue are 48 ballots that will decide whether incumbent David Ramer or write-in challenger Frank Stearn will be elected township supervisor.

Herman, who was mindful that the outcome of the Nov. 4 election is still undetermined, gave Ramer's and Stearn's attorneys until Wednesday to file additional written briefs.

The judge didn't indicate when he might render a decision in the case, but said he would issue an opinion so township residents "know as quickly as possible what their governing authority is going to be."