New election returns show Prosser as winner

[Broca]

Updated election returns posted on a Wisconsin county's website would flip the winner of the Wisconsin Supreme Court race.

The Associated Press verified unofficial Winnebago County election returns on Wednesday morning, but the county updated its numbers at 2:27 that afternoon to show incumbent Justice David Prosser with 710 more votes and assistant attorney general JoAnne Kloppenburg with 466 more.

More at:
http://host.madison.com/wsj/news/local/govt-and-politics/elections/article_6386782e-614f-11e0-97e5-001cc4c002e0.html

[undeterred]

1. How does a county just happen to update its numbers 2 days post-election?

I'm sure there must be a reason, I just can't wait to hear what it is.

[eyesroll]

5. This is actually the official canvass.

Election night totals are not official. Each city, county, or other municipal unit that handles vote counting has a statutory period to do the official canvas and submit the results to the state.

It's not unusual for numbers to change between election night and the official canvass (you can blame many things for that--human error, first and foremost, when people are rushed on election night and want to go home and get numbers out there to the press; also, there may still be military ballots and provisional ballots out there); what is unusual (but not unprecedented) is that this election's close enough for these changes to matter. I'm sure my husband's official tally will be slightly different from the election night tally, but he won decisively, so it won't change the outcome.

There may very well be some bigger problems with this particular canvass--I've heard reports that the unofficial totals omitted the entire city of Brookfield (I'll believe that when I hear an explanation for it), but speaking generally, totals can and do change. A hand recount will also change things, because a hand recount will naturally find votes that the scanner can't. (If a voter uses the wrong kind of pen, or circles a name instead of connecting the arrows, a hand counter will be able to count it, but the machine won't.)

[undeterred]

6. Thank you.

[Broca]

2. And now Prosser hires one of Bush's recount lawyers

And from: http://elections.wispolitics.com/2011/04/prosser-announces-legal-team.html

Justice David Prosser announced this afternoon the leader of his legal team for the expected recount will be Jim Troupis.

The team will also include Milwaukee-based Attorney Dan Kelly and Ben Ginsberg of Washington, D.C.

“We are preparing for a recount, contingent on the results of the statewide canvas currently underway,” Prosser said.

Ginsberg, of Patton Boggs, worked on the Florida recount in the 2000 presidential race for then-Gov. George Bush.

[ewagner]

3. I was afraid of something like this...

They may get away with it ....again...

[yourout]

4. Not anymore.....discussed here.

<http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=439x837150>

[golfguru]

7. Prosser ahead by 7000 according to this...tell me it is not true?

http://www.weeklystandard.com/blogs/conservative-prosser-picks-7381-votes-wisconsin-supreme-court-race_556940.html

[hg4]

8. Brookfield votes stored on personal computers?!