20,000 ballots cannot be counted in Riverside California election

[WillYourVoteBCounted]

California: 20,000 ballots cannot be counted in the election for Riverside District Attorney

About 20,000 ballots cannot be counted because they were received after the 8 p.m. deadline for the Registrar’s office to accept ballots on Election Day. The late-arriving ballots were collected at the Chicago Avenue post office in Riverside
Wednesday morning during a regularly scheduled pickup by the registrar’s staff. The U.S. postal service told the registrar’s staff that the ballots had arrived at the post office about 3:00 a.m. Wednesday.

By law, ballots not in the possession of the registrar by the time polls close at 8:00 p.m. on election day cannot be counted.

Dunmore is arranging to meet with postal officials to ensure that ballots reach the registrar’s office as quickly as possible
in future elections.

http://www.instantriverside.com/2010/06/riverside-district-attorney-vote-pacheco-da-zellerbach/

I know this isn't as sexy as the SC Dem Primary but its a serious problem and
we have the proof right in front of us on this one.

It is not ok that these votes won't be counted. It is also NOT ok that some voters in Palm Beach are
reporting that while their mail ballots are approved but haven't been counted yet,the winner has already been declared.

That sux.
their ballots ha

[Wilms]

1. Not cool.

And the story suggests that the recent postal routing change could be at issue, but Dunmore says it wasn't trouble before. Well, then. So, this time, 1/5 of the absentee ballots arrive late via this route that wasn't a problem before.

What am I missing?

[droidamus2]

2. Another dumb rule

Why isn't the rule that the ballots have to be postmarked before 8:00 pm on election day? That would take care of screwups by the postal service or unintentional delays in service. Why does it seem that a lot of the laws ruling how we vote make it harder to vote and harder to make sure all the votes get counted properly. Having people fill out ballots and counting the results isn't rocket science why do we make it so difficult (yes I know it's part of how you steal elections or interfere with true democracy)

[LiberalFighter]

3. If they use the postmark requirement some of the ballots could be showing up

days after the election is over.

[droidamus2]

4. So

Nothing says the winner has to be announced the very next day, add to the rule that the vote isn't official until a week or 10 days after the election (even if somebody concedes) to give time for the properly postmarked ballots to be delivered. Obviously at some point you have to cut it off and call the election but as I stated the whole point should be to make sure as many votes are counted as possible not to be making rules that disenfranchise voters.

[ISUGRADIA]

6. Iowa Law has been

Ballots postmarked before the day of the election are counted if received up to the time the canvassing board meets (usually about 5 days after the election).

[tiptoe]

5. investigate possible postal subterfuge nt