Jan26

Rebuttal Argument

by cmmarston on January 26th, 2009 at 10:17 AM
Posted In: 46th HOD Special Election, Alexandria 46th Distirct Special Election

Herring’s attorneys are arguing three points
1. Court lacks subject matter jurisdiction–because the court is created by statute, it can only do what the statute authorizes, which they claim is to only count the very same ballots that were counted on Election Day.

2. The statute says if an AB is not received by closing of the polls, it’s not a valid ballot

3.elsewhere in the statute, absentee ballots are to be counted immediately upon closing of polls, so it can’t be the case that ballots arriving after that time should ever be counted

In summary, this isn’t the forum to decide these issues. They’re properly for a contest in the House or for revisions to the statutes.

 Comment 
Jan26

Motion to count 25 ABs

by cmmarston on January 26th, 2009 at 10:05 AM
Posted In: 46th HOD Special Election, Alexandria 46th Distirct Special Election

10:16 am
Jason Torchinsky is arguing the motion. 17 were returned by the voters with postmark on or before Election Day, but received after Election Day.

The question for the court is what constitutes “returned” in the statute–does it mean received by the Election Office or deposited in the mail by the voter.

8 others were not counted because of minor technical defects, such as omitting the city from the registered address.

The question for the court is whether the voters who cast these ballots substantially complied with the requirements to vote absentee.

 Comment 
Jan26

HD 46 Recount Hearing Convenes

by cmmarston on January 26th, 2009 at 9:39 AM
Posted In: 46th HOD Special Election, Alexandria 46th Distirct Special Election

10:00 am
Court’s in session. Judges Haddock, Baskerville, and Taylor are on the bench.

Dave Sachs with the Alexandria Times, Michael Pope with the Alexandria Gazette Packet, and Mike Laris with the Washington Post are all here covering.

With recount officials (half of whom Sean Harrison and I had to serve with a summons this weekend), party observers, and staff from SBE and the Fairfax and Alexandria Election Offices, the crowd’s much bigger than it was last Wednesday.

Next up–arguments on the motion to count certain absentee ballots.

 Comment 
Jan26

HD 46 Recount

by cmmarston on January 26th, 2009 at 8:52 AM
Posted In: 46th HOD Special Election, Alexandria 46th Distirct Special Election

9:05 am
Recount officials showed up at 8:30 am to be sworn in and trained on recount procedures (one of the D officials was 15 minutes late).

The hearing starts at 10 am with argument on Joe’s motion to count certain absentee ballots.

 Comment 
Jan25

State of the Commonwealth

by Not Jim Moran on January 25th, 2009 at 11:59 PM
Posted In: 2009, Dave Albo, Stephen Newman, Tim Kaine

Hello readers of Red NoVA!

As you all know, Gov. Tim Kaine recently delivered his LAST “State of the commonwealth.”

Since the Governor’s speech is really long, rather than post it, here is a link to it.

Delegate Dave Albo and Senator Stephen Newman gave the GOP response. Here it is.

Enjoy! Check back soon, I’ll have part two of the Foster interview, as well as talk about Obama’s cabinet!

 Comment