Write-in count shows 98% for Murkowski; most challenges fail - Updated

[Tx4obama]

Source: Anchorage Daily News

The first batch of numbers is out and they show 89 percent of the write-ins counted so far were perfect for Lisa Murkowski.

Out of 7,638 write-ins counted just 67 wrote in someone other than Murkowski. The Division of Elections says 6,804 votes were unchallenged for Murkowski, representing 89.08 percent of ballots counted.

Another 678 of the ballots were challenged but the challenge was overruled by the Division. Those are considered to be "challenged but counted," and will be reviewed in the expected recount with the courts having the final say.

There were only 89 successful challenges of Murkowski votes. That represents just 1.17 percent of the ballots counted.

Read more: http://community.adn.com/adn/node/154249

---

The headline used above is from their front page link that links to the article.

p.s. Apparently so far only ONE person wrote in Joe Miller's name :)

Edited to correct headline up above - changed 89% to 98%.
ADN.com changed the number in their headline.

Their updated headline and paragraph on the front page says:

Write-in count shows 98% for Murkowski; most challenges fail

Alaska elections officials have released the first batch of results from today's count of write-in votes in the U.S. Senate race, and they show 89 percent so far were cast perfectly for Lisa Murkowski. Another 9 percent also are being counted for her among the 7,638 tallied so far.

[Tx4obama]

1. The OP above has been updated. n/t

[sally cat]

2. Both are repukes, who cares.

[Brother Buzz]

3. One translates to a flat tire on the Palin machine

Um, that's about it.

[savalez]

4. I just want Miller to lose.

[Brother Buzz]

5. The seat is not going to flip

I'm with you.


:thumbsup:

[Tx4obama]

7. A lot of people care, because Murkowski winning will be a BIG loss for PALIN. n/t

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

10. + 1,000,000,000,000!!!! n/t

[sofa king]

13. But a Miller win makes Mark Begich (D) the senior Senator from Alaska

Without the pull of the senior Senator, no legislation affecting the state of Alaska alone will ever pass Congress. That means no drilling in ANWR, no relaxation of endangered species laws, no backing off of trapping regulations, and none of the other crazy batshit that Miller's loons want. Senator Murkowski, on the other hand, is in a position to approve all of that crap in order to reestablish her street cred. So should the Senate tip all the way over to the GOP in 2012, having Begich as the senior Senator provides a small degree of protection from Miller's agenda. Having Murkowski as Senator doesn't.

But as long as neither gets to take office, it's win-win for us.

[karynnj]

23. Not really true - being a senior Senator from a state is not the same as seniority

which determines your power on committees.

For instance, after Salazar was appointed to the Interior, Udall, who was elected for the first time in 2008 became the senior Senator from Colorado. At that point, Senator Rockefeller, the chair of the powerful Commerce committee and John Kerry, the chair of the Foreign Relations committee and the former Presidential nominee were the junior Senators in their states. Udall, Freshman from Colorado was one of the least powerful Senators, Kerry and Rockefeller among the most powerful.

The fact is that drilling in ANWR was stopped by the Senate when Stevens was the senior Senator and Murkowski the Junior Senator - and Stevens was extremely angry when it failed - attacking Canwell and Kerry because the Magnuson and Tsongus who previously held their seats had agreed to it - this argument failed to impress Kerry and Cantwell. He also threatened to quit the Senate - then reneged.

[sofa king]

45. ANWR could not have gone forward without Stevens' approval.

That's why it got as far as it did, and why Stevens threw his fit over having the scheme blocked. Traditionally, the senior senator from the state (no matter how junior in the overall scheme of the Senate) has the most important input on one-state matters.

Some of the reasons that other Senators felt justified in intervening in this case included the fact that ANWR is federally-controlled land, that the suggested land use was a strategic decision touching upon the future energy security of the nation, and that it was a fight that the Democratically controlled (by one vote) Senate could (just barely) win at the time.

Taking Murkowski out of the game also effectively throws a wrench into the finely tuned Republican machine in Alaska. Republican lobbyists broke for Murkowski in a big way, and Miller knows it. They'll have to spend a lot of time and money buttering up Miller, who is a loon and quite likely also criminal-minded, and then once they do get back in his good graces they get only a fraction of the corruption return that the Murkowski machine can promise, because Miller will have absolutely no juice on Capitol Hill.

[No Elephants]

42. Meh. Palin and her base will play it off. Meanwhile, a Democrat already lost.

[harmonicon]

8. People care, because the democratic process is interesting. n/t

[Renew Deal]

17. Poeple that care about fair elections

People that care about the makeup of our government
Alaskans

Probably many others

[cyr330]

20. I agree up to a point. . .

But although I HATE Murkowski, she hates Palin, and so do I. . . So, she is the least-offensive candidate, even though that doesn't mean much. I love seeing Palin humiliated, as she was whoring for Joe Miller to win.

[Grassy Knoll]

6. Bye, bye, Joe THE Miller.

[groundloop]

9. That's slightly good news, the right wing repuke beats the wacko tea-bagger

Sorry Sarah, you lose again.

[Ter]

11. I'm rooting for Miller

If I have to have a puke, I'll take the Ron Paul wing over the Bush wing any day.

[sabrina 1]

15. No thanks, I prefer we don't have people making decisions

for this country who travel around with a bunch of mercenary goons arresting Reporters for daring to ask questions.

At least Murkowski was willing to do an interview with Rachel Maddow and answer all of the questions she was asked.

In this case of the lesser of two evils, Murkowski is definitely the lesser.

The Bonus is, Palin hates her and supported Wilson the anti-free press guy, then he refused to say he is qualified for president, but he's her candidate so it will be a good thing when he loses.

[Ter]

16. She's more willing to go to war

To me that's a big issue. Miller has already said he's not into neo-con foreign policy.

[sabrina 1]

19. Well, that's definitely a consideration. But I believe Rachel asked

her about that and she said something about being willing to discuss things more in the future.

Sad that our choices are always so bad. Choose between a warmonger and an opponent of the 1st Amendment. These constant 'lesser evil' choices are getting harder to make.

As for the old 'don't let the perfect be the enemy of the good'. I think I will scream if anyone says that to me again. SHOW me perfect and I'll be happy to just see what it looks like, and then vote for the 'good'. Even show us the 'good'. What we have is 'don't let the horrible be the enemy of the disastrous' most of the time.

[Tx4obama]

12. NEW UPDATE below

From ADN.com

Update, 5:18 p.m. (Alaska time)

We just received the full results of today's write in ballot count, and it is looking positive for Lisa Murkowski's campaign.

The Division of Elections reports that it went through the write-in ballots for nearly 20 percent of the precincts in Alaska today.

More than 89 percent of the write-ins were unchallenged of Murkowski.

There were another 8.5 percent of the ballots that were challenged by Miller campaign observers but Division of Elections Director Gail Fenumiai ruled they should be counted for Murkowski. Those challenges could end up being decided in court.

Miller campaign observers successfully challenged only 1.44 percent of the 19,203 ballots that were counted throughout the day.

There ended up being 164 write-in votes for people other than Murkowski.

Two people wrote in Joe Miller.

[Historic NY]

14. Palin loses face in her own state...her endorsed candidate loses BIG.

[Tx4obama]

18. THURSDAY afternoon UPDATE

From ADN.com

Update, 12:37 p.m. (Thursday)

We just received the first results of today's count and the trend is similar to what we saw yesterday, with Lisa Murkowski receiving nearly 98 percent of the write in ballots cast.

The Alaska Division of Elections has now reviewed the writes-in for 32 percent of the precincts. More than 89 percent of the 30,023 write-in votes cast are unchallenged for Murkowski.

Another 8.4 percent of the writes-in were challenged by Miller campaign observers but counted for Murkowski by Elections Director Gail Fenumiai.Those include examples of ballots that appear to be filled out correctly but were still challenged (see below). The Miller campaign challenges of those votes still stand, with Miller hoping the courts will rule on them.

They are being segregated in boxes with the status "counted but challenged."

Just 1.5 percent of the write-in ballots have been successfully challenged by the Miller ballot observers, with Fenumiai agreeing with Miller that they should not be counted.

http://community.adn.com/adn/node/154279

[Tx4obama]

21. Thursday Evening Update

Update, 5:02 p.m. (Thursday, Alaska time)

Results just came in. The Division of Elections is done reviewing write-in ballots for almost half the precincts in Alaska and is still counting nearly 98 percent of them for Lisa Murkowski.

The Division reports 89.78 percent of the write-ins are unchallenged for Murkowski, a number that's held steady during the count.

The Division of Elections overturned challenges by the Miller campaign on another 8 percent of the ballots and counted them for Murkowski. Miller hopes the courts will reverse that.

Just 1.52 percent of the 45,132 write-in ballots reviewed so far have been successfully challenged by Miller ballot observers.

The review of write-in ballots is will continue tomorrow.


Read more: http://community.adn.com/adn/node/154279#ixzz152142FH4

[Tx4obama]

22. Friday afternoon Update

The review of write-in ballots continues to go Lisa Murkowski's way with nearly 57 percent of the precincts counted.

Murkowski is still getting almost 98 percent of the write-ins.

More than 90 percent are unchallenged for her. The Miller campaign challenged an additional 7.7 percent of Murkowski votes, but was overruled by Elections Director Gail Fenumiai.

Those are "counted but challenged" and could go to court.

The Miller campaign's ballot observers have successfully challenged 1.48 percent of the 56,088 write-in ballots reviewed.

Read more: http://community.adn.com/adn/node/154312#ixzz156mBvceM

p.s. 56,088 ballots reviewed out of 92,979 total.

[Tx4obama]

27. self-delete

[delightfulstar]

24. Anyone but Miller....

One less TP fanatic to worry about in January.

[LawnLover]

25. I'm no fan of Murkowski, but

I'm happy to see that motherfucker Miller and his fascist bodyguards go down. Murkowski at least isn't a tea bagging crazy.

[IDFbunny]

26. She can't be all bad

if the freepers deeply hate her.

[Tx4obama]

28. 11/12/10 --- Friday Evening Update

Update, 5:30 p.m. (Friday)

The state just finished reviewing write-in ballots for the day and has now gone through 72 percent of the precincts in Alaska.

The results haven't changed much: Nearly 98 percent of the write-ins are going to Lisa Murkowski. Over 90 percent of Murkowski's votes are unchallenged, as Joe Miller's observers made fewer challenges today than previous days.

The Miller campaign has successfully challenged just 1.5 percent of the 69,249 write-in ballots that have been reviewed.

It looks as though the Miller campaign needs to disqualify 12 percent of the write-in votes for Murkowski in order to win the election. And that's not happening. Even if Miller's lawsuit to toss out the misspelled votes succeeds, Murkowski could still end up with enough votes to win.


Read more: http://community.adn.com/adn/node/154312#ixzz157z61Tge

[Tx4obama]

29. Detailed write-in results info as of tonight on link below

http://www.elections.alaska.gov/results/10GENR/data/resultsWI.htm

[Tx4obama]

30. Saturday 'midday' update - 11/13/10

JUNEAU -- U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski is undisputedly winning 89.8 percent of write-in votes counted so far in Alaska's hotly contested Senate race.

Another 7.8 percent is being credited toward her tally over challenges, generally from observers for Murkowski's rival, Joe Miller, over such things as misspellings of Murkowski's name.

Ballot counters have gone through 88 percent of precincts; write-in votes cast by absentee, questioned and early voters must still be tallied.

(SNIP)

Here's a breakdown of votes counted in the Alaska Senate race as of midday today, according to the Alaska Division of elections:

Total write-in votes to be counted: 98,565

Total write-in votes counted Saturday: 6,760

Total write-in votes counted so far: 76,009

Undisputed votes counted for U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski: 68,240

Challenged ballots counted for Murkowski: 5,936

Challenged ballots not counted for Murkowski: 1,324

Total number of votes for GOP nominee Joe Miller: 87,517

Write-in ballots cast for Joe Miller: 5

Write-in ballots cast for other candidates: 49

Write-in ballots cast for miscellaneous/other names: 455

Read more: http://www.adn.com/2010/11/13/1552772/murkowski-continues-to-win-most.html#ixzz15DEuAWZt

[Tx4obama]

31. 11/13/10 - Saturday End of the Day totals.

Total number of votes for GOP nominee Joe Miller: 87,517

Total write-in votes to be counted: 98,565

Total write-in votes counted Saturday: 13,864

Total write-in votes counted so far: 83,113

Undisputed votes counted for U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski: 74,449

Challenged ballots counted for Murkowski: 6,574

Challenged ballots not counted for Murkowski: 1,559

Write-in ballots cast for Joe Miller: 5

Write-in ballots cast for other candidates: 53

Write-in ballots cast for miscellaneous/other names: 473

Read more: http://www.adn.com/2010/11/13/1552875/alaska-senate-race-vote-tally.html#ixzz15DWxEtKy

[Tx4obama]

33. Here's a more detailed breakdown of the ballots (so far) on the link below

http://www.elections.alaska.gov/results/10GENR/data/resultsWI.htm

[Orsino]

32. Yay for our side!

:fistbump:

[No Elephants]

43. When did a Republicon become "our side?"

[Orsino]

44. I omitted the sarcasm smilie.

My bad.

[clixtox]

34. No Democrat in the race?

I don't understand these results without a Democratic Party candidate in the mix.

Can someone tell me what happened that there isn't a Democrat?

This seems like it was a great opportunity to have taken advantage of the split amongst the Repugnants and elect another Democrat.

I don't get it at all...

[clixtox]

35. OK, I did some research...

I can not believe that the Democratic Party in Alaska couldn't come up with a nominee that could compete against a split Republican Party. Alaskans just elected a Democrat in 2008, Mark Begich, so it isn't like the race would be out of reach for a viable Democratic candidate. What happened?

[Alexander]

37. Begich barely won because Ted Stevens was so corrupt.

Democrats would never have had a chance at that seat had it not been for Stevens getting indicted.

[karynnj]

39. The Democrats thought Murkowski would win the primary - and be unbeatable

This meant the strongest Democrats did not run.

[Tx4obama]

36. There was a democrat, McAdams came in third.

There were more 'write-in' ballot votes than the votes that were for Joe Miller.
So right now the Alaskan election officials are counting the 'write-in' ballots, in order to see if Murkowski (write-in R) or Miller (R) comes in 'first' place.

At this point in time it looks like Palin's boy Miller will not have enough votes to win,
Murkowski will have more 'unchallenged' ballots in order for her to win :)

[Crowman1979]

38. Yeah, Murkowski is a Republican, but it's one less "pro-lifer regardless of rape/incest" in office.

That's what really matters. Plus those militia folks are gonna be pissed if they don't receive their cash in a month from Miller.

[Tx4obama]

40. UPDATE: Sunday - End of the day totals for Murkowski

Lisa Murkowski (perfect ballot no challenge): 78,697
Murkowski (Challenged ballot, but counted): 7,059
Murkowski (Challenged ballot, and 'not' counted): 1,740

Note: Sunday fewer than 5,000 ballots were reviewed.

Counting of the 'write-in' ballots resume tomorrow.

More info here: http://www.adn.com/2010/11/14/1554385/murkowski-retains-election-write.html

and here: http://www.elections.alaska.gov/results/10GENR/data/resultsWI.htm

[Ter]

41. Miller Still Leads In Uncontested Ballot Count

Anchorage, Alaska. November 14, 2010 -- After 5 days of write-in ballot counting, Republican nominee Joe Miller still leads incumbent Lisa Murkowski in the uncontested write-in ballot count. As of Sunday night, 88,076 of the total 98,565 write-in votes have been counted and Miller has 87,517 uncontested votes and Murkowski only has 78,697. If current trends hold, Miller and Murkowski will likely end up in a dead heat in the uncontested ballot count.

Tomorrow, approximately 8,800 absentee ballots are due to be counted as well as 1,000 overseas (mostly military) ballots. Miller has had a very strong showing in the absentee ballots and particularly among the military community. Miller campaign spokesman Randy DeSoto said, "If previous trends hold for the absentee ballot count, it is possible for Joe to gain as many as 1,000 votes against Lisa Murkowski tomorrow."

The next issue will be determining the standard to apply for ascertaining the validity of challenged ballots. Desoto said, "The obvious standard must be the law. We are a nation of laws, not of men." DeSoto also explained that, "The Lieutenant Governor, following the announcement of Lisa Murkowski's write-in candidacy, stated that the law would be applied, as written. We expect to hold the state to the law. The time and place to alter the law is in the legislature. The Division of Elections' actions here to modify clear law is troubling and concerning. After 50 years of state elections, the Division of Elections has all of a sudden adopted all sorts of new procedures just for this election. We are watching this to ensure this election is transparent, fair and legitimate. So far, what we have seen, should give the voting public pause."

The law in Alaska is clear: "A vote for a write-in candidate...shall be counted if the oval is filled in for that candidate and if the name, as it appears on the write-in declaration of candidacy, of the candidate or the last name of the candidate is written in the space provided."

The law also states (in a provision conveniently ignored so far by the State and Murkowski) that "The rules set out in this section are mandatory and there are no exceptions to them. A ballot may not be counted unless marked in compliance with these rules." . For reasons never explained, the State and Murkowski now claim that, even though the law bars exceptions for everyone else, there will be exceptions for Lisa Murkowski. Said Joe Miller, "We need one standard for everyone. It makes no sense to create all these new exceptions just for Lisa Murkowski. I have said from the beginning, I want a fair election and I want the law followed. I don't think that is too much to ask."

DeSoto added, "Lisa Murkowski spent hundreds of thousand of dollars on her spelling bee ad making it very clear that she knew what standard was expected and what had been applied for decades in this state prior to her write-in bid. She spent tens of thousands of dollars on wristbands, pencils, brochures, and temporary tattoos emphasizing the need for proper spelling. She even convinced the Division of Elections to provide (and went to court to make sure it continued to provide), for the first time in 50 years and, in violation of its own regulations, a write-in list so that voters would know how to spell her name properly. Then, the Division of Elections took the extraordinary step of changing the standard, just 36 hours prior to the start of the count to a newly created "voter intent" and/or phonetic standard." Miller observers have seen the Division of Elections apply the statute's standard ("name, as it appears on the write-in declaration of candidacy") to other declared write-in candidates while applying the voter intent/phonetic standard to Murkowski's. DeSoto noted, "The integrity of the vote is at issue. The people of Alaska need to know the law is king, and just because you're a Murkowski doesn't mean that the rules get changed to your benefit."

The Miller Campaign has filed a suit in federal court last week to uphold the rule of law in Alaska. The brief from the state of Alaska is due tomorrow and Miller's is due November 18th.

http://us1.campaign-archive.com/?u=4ed896e60d9a1d9a10dec11a0&id=279f68a0dc&e=f510bf2e8f

[Tx4obama]

46. UPDATE: Monday evening write-in ballot results

Lisa Murkowski (perfect ballot no challenge): 84,563
Murkowski (Challenged ballot, but counted): 7,601
Murkowski (Challenged ballot, and 'not' counted): 1,869

Full write-in results here: http://www.elections.alaska.gov/results/10GENR/data/resultsWI.htm

Note: Joe Miller had 82,180 votes on election day, he picked up 10 write-in votes, some more votes from the absentee ballots which gives him a new total of 90,488

Full statewide results here: http://www.elections.alaska.gov/results/10GENR/data/results.htm

Also note: Absentee overseas ballots that were postmarked by/on election day have until Wednesday to show up at election headquarters and still will have to be counted - there shouldn't be very many of those.

So, far...
Lisa Murkowski: 92,164 (total includes perfect ballots AND challenged but counted ballots)
Joe Miller: 90,488

[Tx4obama]

47. Murkowski passes Miller in vote count - article link below

http://www.adn.com/2010/11/15/1555926/murkowski-passes-miller-in-vote.html

[Tx4obama]

48. UPDATE: Tuesday evenig.

From the AP

JUNEAU, Alaska — U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski widened her lead over GOP rival Joe Miller to 10,400 votes in Alaska's Senate race and is returning to the state, where she could declare victory as early as Wednesday.

The vote tally includes ballots challenged by Miller observers but credited to her total. However, she now has more than 2,200 more undisputed votes than Miller.

At this point, Murkowski has 92,715 unchallenged votes, along with 8,153 challenged votes for a total of 100,868. Miller has 90,468 total.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/40203917/ns/politics-decision_2010

p.s. Some absentee ballots are still out, those might be counted on Friday.
Plus Joe Miller's campaign guy says that 2,000 is 'too close' they will probably call for a recount.

Here's a link to the detailed write-in results so far: http://www.elections.alaska.gov/results/10GENR/data/resultsWI.htm

Here's a link to the latest ADN article: http://www.adn.com/2010/11/16/1557873/murkowskis-lead-more-than-10000.html

[Tx4obama]

49. AP: Murkowski wins! CNN: Murkowski to declare victory this evening.

AP
JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) -- Sen. Lisa Murkowski on Wednesday became the first Senate candidate in more than 50 years to win a write-in campaign, emerging victorious over her tea party rival following a painstaking, week-long count of hand-written votes.
http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_ALASKA_SENATE?SITE=PAREA&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT

CNN
A spokesman for Sen. Lisa Murkowski tells CNN's Shannon Travis she will declare victory in the Alaska Senate race tonight, in remarks in Anchorage shortly before 10 p.m. ET.
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x4618495