Committee likely to decide final disputed House races

[MaineDem]

AUGUSTA - The final two recounts in disputed Maine House of Representatives races remained unresolved Tuesday, leaving the likelihood both will be decided by the House itself. But whatever the outcome, Democrats will maintain a comfortable majority for the 2007-08 session.

The top-ranking House Democrat, Rep. Glenn Cummings of Portland, said the District 102 race will be referred to the House Elections Committee because a recount generated more questions than answers about the outcome. Republicans said the recount results should be accepted as final.

Unofficial Election Day results showed that Democrat Michael Shaw won by 13 votes in the District 102 race in Standish. Incumbent Republican Rep. Gary Moore asked for a recount, which showed Moore gaining votes and put him on top.

However, the number of ballots counted also exceeded the number of people who voted on Election Day by 66 ballots, according to Cummings, who called the discrepancy unusual and disconcerting.
"This is far beyond any usual margin of error," said Cummings, who is likely to be elected House speaker when the newly elected Legislature is sworn in Dec. 6.


http://pressherald.mainetoday.com/news/statehouse/061129recounts.html

More ballots than people voting? It's possible some ballots were spoiled and reissued but the clerk didn't mark them if that's the case. Now it's up to the Legislature to resolve. It's possible they may order a special election.

[Shorebound]

1. Quite a discrepancy

Is a 66-ballot difference at all normal in House district voting? At first glance (and perhaps second and third) it looks very unusual. I can't recall anything like this in my admittedly limited experience.