OC Democratic Party Considers Suing If Correa Loses 34th Senate District Race

From today's OC Register:

County Democratic Party Chairman Frank Barbaro said that if Daucher wins by a narrow margin, his party will consider challenging the outcome.

Gee, I didn't see that coming for the last couple of weeks.

"(But) I don't know if there's a legal basis to try to overturn an election based on people having to wait in a long line," he said.

Since when has that been an impediment to filing lawsuits to overturn an undesirable election result?

Comments

[JozefColomy]

A Democrat demanding a recount? Really? No way!

[clprevatt]

Matt,

Considering is not the same as threatening. And I agree with Frank, I don't think there is a legal basis to overturn an election because of long lines. The only thing a lawsuit might do is force the Registrar of Voters to address the problem.

I 'm happy to wait and see what happens as the provisional and paper ballots get counted. Most of the almost 6,000 paper ballots are probably from the precincts where the machine problems and lines occured. Based solely on the reports I have seen, those problems primarily occurred in the 34th Senate district in heavy Democratic and Latino areas.

[Jubal]

Considering is not the same as threatening.

A fair point, and I've changed the headline upon consideration of it.

It's something that ought to be addressed, but it's extremely premature to call for Neal Kelley's dismissal because of long lines at a few precincts. Avoiding long lines is one reason so many of us are permanent absentee voters.

[the serrach says..]

if this were about a potential republican lawsuit, the headline might be "GOP Vows to Fight Voter Fraud" and it would magically have to do with mexicans somehow.

funny, huh?

[Jubal]

No, the headline would have read "OC GOP Threatens Lawsuit If Daucher Loses."

And who's obsessed with Mexicans, here? Not me (except for the fact that I married one and my two youngest kids have Mexican nationality).

[OC-G]

"So many of us are permanent absentee voters..."

If by "us" you mean well-off white folks, then I agree with you. Unfortunately, one of the first lessons immigrants learn here is not to trust the "system" so that when they naturalize, there is inherent mistrust in the postal service, the registrar, etc. Therefore "they" choose to vote in person, despite Field Marshal Kelley's plan to disfranchise them with long lines.

[Mark Leyes]

Hey, wait a minute! The OC Dems might sue to oveturn an election result they don't like? Is AL "win-at-any-cost" Gore their new advisor?

Maybe the real headlines SHOULD read, "Outraged public demands investigation into Dem Dirty Trick of phony Write-in." Seems like there was CRIMINAL prosecution the last time someone recruited a candidate from the other party in a close election....

[Jubal]

By "us' I mean voters who choose to be permanent absentee voters -- but thanks for jumping to your ethno-centric conclusion.

If immigrants don't trust the system, then why do immigrants vote at all -- because that is part of the system. After all, you have to show up and identify yourself and participate in a government process. You're rationalizations smacks more of a mistaken, condescending belief that Latino immigrants are stupid, fearful sheep.

It's amusing to read you left-wing black helicopter-types spinning nutty conspiracy theories like yours about Neal Kelley: "Hmmm, there's a long line at the precinct. It must be a deliberate effort by Neal Kelley to disenfranchise Latinos! There's no other conceivable explanation! Only a dupe could possibly conclude otherwise!"

[Elroy El]

A Democrat demanding a recount? Really? No way!

You mean like democrat Bob Dornan? Didn't he demand a recount?

[Thomas A Gordon]

"Based solely on the reports I have seen, those problems primarily occurred in the 34th Senate district in heavy Democratic and Latino areas."

I live smack up against South Coast Plaza
in an area with no vendor trucks or lawn parking or apartments and I waited 2 1/2 hours to vote.

Hey-Maybe all the rich Republicans who would have voted for me got fed up and left.

I'm considering a court challenge.

Stolen Election!!!!! (sarcasm intended)

[Martin Wisckol]

Since I wrote the story that launched this thread, I'm wondering where this "Democrats demand a recount" business comes from. Secondly, why would there be something wrong with asking for a recount? Whether it's Dornan or Gore or Harkey or Correa or Daucher? Isn't there a legitimate reason there are provisions for a recount?

[Martin Wisckol]

Since I wrote the story that launched this thread, I'm wondering where this "Democrats demand a recount" business comes from. Secondly, why would there be something wrong with asking for a recount? Whether it's Dornan or Gore or Harkey or Correa or Daucher? Isn't there a legitimate reason there are provisions for a recount?

[Jubal]

Barbaro wasn't demanding a recount. He was considering a lawsuit to overturn the result if Correa lost.

There's nothing wrong with requesting a recount in a close election, and I think the law requires one if the margin is less than a 100 votes (someone please correct me if I'm wrong).

However, the ROV has a very good track record for accuracy. Diane Harkey paid for a very expensive recount in her Senate race, and the recount resulted in virtually no change in the tally.

[JozefColomy]

Wow Elroy, pardon me having fun. I'll make a note-to-self to never post with levity again. Sorry for making some good-natured humor about someone we can all make fun of, Al Gore.