Quoted:
Quoted: abantee ballots aren't counted unless the race is close enough to where the total number of absantee ballots would change the outcome.
|
Is this true?
|
Depends by state, but in NY, yes it is true... what is the point? If the margin of victory exceeds EVERY absentee ballot on hand, than even if the all broke for the underdog they would still lose. The exception to this would be if a certain number of votes was needed to maintain an automatic party line on the ballot without needing to petition, in which case if a party was close to losing their automatic line and the number of votes needed was less than the number of absentee ballots on hand, they could be counted to determine if the threshold was met.
God, I am such a political geek!
ETA, as a state poll inspector I am never in my own ED when I work an election, so I ALWAYS vote absentee... and I check every year to ensure it was received. I've also been involved with counts and recounts of absentees for close races. There are always Republican and Democrat BOE examiners reading the ballots together, as well as plenty of observers from both parties and usually a judge as well as law enforcement officers. It ain't pretty... always hope the victory exceeds the number of absentees.