5/24 Lenoir NC - Primary Winner - Paper Ballot Ensured Fairness

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Lenoir NC: Primary Winner - Paper Ballot Ensured Fairness
Here we have a pleasant and unexpected turn of events following NC's paper trail legislation.

Politicians point to the backup paper ballot as proof that a contested primary election WAS fair. Voters had extra chance to make sure ballot was right.

Background: A primary contestant for NC State House, LaRoque, is complaining that he lost votes when unaffiliated voters were given the proper ballot (to vote in GOP primary).

Meanwhile, the candidate with the 11 vote edge, Willie Ray Starling - argues that because
the new machines create a paper ballot printout - the voters had double the chance to realize that they had the wrong ballot.

Lenoir elections board upholds LaRoque protest. May 24,2006 The Free Press.

Contestant seeks "do-over" for primary.

The Lenoir County Board of Elections voted 2-1 Tuesday to uphold state Rep. Stephen LaRoque’s challenge to results of the May 2 Republican primary for the 10th District of the state House.

At issue: The GOP primary contest for State House was won by a razor thin edge of only 11 votes. The losing candidate filed a challenge.

LaRoque, who is seeking his third two-year House term, is challenging his 11-vote primary loss to Willie Ray Starling of Mount Olive.

Wrong ballot given to some voters?

LaRoque contends that unaffiliated voters in Lenoir — many of whom he says would have voted for him — were denied the right to vote in the Republican primary.
Board of Elections member Waller advises that this argument is not that solid:

“I see where you are going with the argument that poll workers should have asked (unaffiliated voters) what ballot they wanted,” Waller said in response to concerns raised by Herring. “But I see the other side of the coin, too. Our people have to be responsible. The new voting machines show voters twice their choices before they push the button and cast their votes. If you get the wrong ballot, you know it.

The attorney for the winning candidate points out that with the new machines,
(because of the paper ballot), voters have extra opportunity to ensure they get the right ballot.

Starling’s attorney, Michael Crowell of Raleigh, responded by arguing that individual voters have the responsibility to ask for and ensure that they receive proper ballots. He added that several of the unaffiliated voters filing affidavits had participated in past primaries and were aware of the election process. The new machines, he said, also offered plenty of opportunity for ballots to be reviewed by the voter before they cast their final votes.

Winner's attorney doesn't see wrong doing here.

Crowell added. “The evidence presented doesn’t show the violations or misconduct that requires a new election.”
The state board will probably hear LaRoque’s protest early in June.

http://blackboxvoting.com/s9/index.php?/archives/127-Lenoir-NC-Primary-Winner-Paper-Ballot-Ensured-Fairness.html