Is Blackwell Certifying Today?

[ahyums]

As far as I remember Blackwell has to certify today. If that is the case, today is the day when the real game begins. If I understood correctly there should be at least two if not more lawsuits filled very soon after certification, and of course the recount process will begin, for better or for worse we should have a much clearer understanding of where we stand in the next few days. I hope they're exciting ones.

[libmeayer]

1. Yes he is.

[progressoid]

2. bet he'll wait until the last minute to avoid any unpleasantness

[ahyums]

3. that's what I thought, 4:59 precisely or something like that

[zann725]

5. Well then the lawsuit briefs will be filed at 4:59:01

I'm guessing they'l have people at the courthouse (on cell phone), waiting in line and ready.

[ahyums]

6. would have the makings of a good scene n/t

[righteous1]

7. The announcement is just a formality, has about as much

significance as someone mowing their lawn

[Twist_U_Up]

4. anyone gimme a quik run down on the timeline from here ? n/t

[Chi]

8. 6th and the 13th

The Sixth (today) is the deadline for him to certify
The thirteenth is the report to electoral deadline (I believe).

He/they have successfully left on 7 days (5 working days) to do a statewide recount estimated to take 10 days.

So, whats new? j/k

[pgh_dem]

9. 1 day, as far as i know

Don't forget Ohio law provides a 5-day period for Blackwell to notify all the counties of the requested recount. So technically he could just wait til friday at 4:59 to make a conference call.
Then the recounting couldn't start til monday morning, giving just one day to count 6 million votes.
This is, I understand, why Cobb/Badnarik had that lawsuit urging recount to begin immediately.
That notification period is probably some antique crap, assuming the SoS had to send out people on horseback or something to notify counties of the recount request.

[righteous1]

10. Actually the SOS has 5 days for preparing, organizing etc etc

post request per Ohio law, so that puts it like Dec 12 before it would actually get started

[Chi]

11. Thanx , I stand corrected 8)

Thanx for the corrections pgh_dem, and Rightous1.

And for the information 8)

[AndrewClarke]

12. Actually . . .

According to Ohio Revised Code § 3515.03, he has ten days to start the recount: "Upon the filing of an application . . . the board shall promptly fix the time, method, and the place at which the recount will be made, which time shall be not later than ten days after the day upon which such application is filed . . ."

If Blackwell leaves enough time for Cobb and Badnarik to file for the recount today, it would have to start by the 16th. Otherwise, it would have to start by the 17th.

[Farah]

14. But would the electoral college not consider the fact that a recount is...

being filed...?

[righteous1]

16. Update: SOS just stated that they have 10 days to start n/t

[mulethree]

13. Blackwell Certifies Statewide Election Results

http://serform.sos.state.oh.us/sos/news/index1.htm

President: Total Votes
Michael Badnarik (Other-party candidate) 14,695
George W. Bush (Republican) 2,858,727
David Keith Cobb (Write-in) 186
Richard A. Duncan (Write-in) 16
James Harris (Write-in) 22
John F. Kerry (Democrat) 2,739,952
John T. Parker (Write-in) 2
Michael Anthony Peroutka (Other-party candidate) 11,907
Joe Schriner (Write-in) 114
Thomas F. Zych (Write-in) 10

[jmknapp]

15. Here's a spreadsheet

Comparing the initial election night results to the final certified results:

http://copperas.com/ohio/ohiocertified.xls