Do over
The N.C. Board of Elections has ordered a news statewide election in the Commissioner of Agriculture race.
Candidate, winner of the first round and Guilford County farmer Steve Troxler said he will appeal that ruling to Superior Court.
Temporary story on the ruling here. More will be in tomorrow's paper.
Updates after the jump.
Update 1: A press release from Troxler:
December 29, 2004
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
"The decision by the State Board of Elections today to call for a new statewide election for Commissioner of Agriculture is a grave miscarriage of justice. To use partisan politics and legal maneuvering to circumvent the will of the more than 3.4 million North Carolinians who decided this race on November 2nd is simply wrong.
"A new statewide election, according to the State Board of Elections, will cost more than $3 million. The Board of Elections also estimates that voter turnout in a new election will be no more than 15 to 20 percent of the voting population. The wishes of more than three million North Carolina voters will be thrown out in favor of votes from a few hundred thousand. That’s not the way democracy is supposed to work.
"In addition, county governments will be required to pay the cost of the new election that Britt Cobb, the Democrat Party and the State Board of Elections think we need. That means citizens of North Carolina will not only have to go to the polls again, they will have to pay for the privilege of doing it. That’s just plain wrong.
"Every election has a winner and a loser. I have said many times since November 2nd that if I had lost the election I would not be putting the Department of Agriculture, the agriculture industry and the people of this state through a long, drawn-out appeal. Since the votes were tallied in the November 2nd election, I have never trailed. Right is right and fair is fair. The wishes of the people who voted should be honored and this race should be over."
Update 2: E-mailed comments from Cobb:
For Immediate Release
December 29, 2004 - 1:18 p.m.
Commissioner of Agriculture Britt Cobb's statement on the order issued today by the State Board of Elections:
"I'm glad the State Board of Elections followed the court's instructions and corrected the legal errors contained in its earlier order. As I have been urging, military personnel will now be able to vote, absentee ballots will be allowed, and one-stop voting will be restored.
"I've said all along that it's the job of the Board of Elections and the courts to determine what the law requires and it's the candidates' job to obey. Now I look forward to a vigorous campaign and a spirited debate on the issues: protecting consumers, creating jobs, and providing experienced leadership for our state's largest industry."
Comments (3)
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Mark,
Not to put too fine a point on it, but there was no "winner" of the "first round." The first round was never completed. If it were, there would be no need for another election. I voted for Troxler in November and will do so again, but his blame is misplaced. This whole fiasco is the result of having electronic voting machines without an auditable paper trail.
When we hear among the multiple excuses of why we cannot have a paper record along with touch-screen voting, cost is usually one of the reasons cited. If anything, this should demonstrate that it can be costly not to have a paper trail. The sooner we fix the election aparatus, the better.
Posted on December 29, 2004 5:12 PM
Quite right Roch...I should have written presumed winner.
Posted on December 30, 2004 10:53 AM
The govenor appointed Britt Cobb,as agi.com.that is why he wants a new election he fells he desirves it.
Posted on January 4, 2005 4:26 PM