Dean seeks new election in Fla. race (1 Viewer)

[danarhea]

The House of Representatives may either refuse to seat Republican Vern Buchanan when they convene in January, or they may seat him, only to unseat him at a later date. The central issue is whether all the votes in Katherine Harris' old district were counted, or whether the machines malfunctioned in a Democratic area, thus recording no vote for Christine Jennings, and giving Buchanan the election victory. It is hard to say, so let me start a poll on this and see what everyone thinks.

Article is here.

 

[Skip]

State officials certified Buchanan as the winner by just 369 votes... More than 18,000 Sarasota County voters who marked other races didn't have a vote register in the House race, a rate much higher than the rest of the district.

They definitely should have a new election.

 

[danarhea]

They definitely should have a new election.

If they can show unequivocally that machine malfunctions led to Jennings' loss, then there should be a new election. However, so far, they have not proven their case, which means that, at this time, I voted no in the poll.

 

[RightinNYC]

This vote was hilarious:

You can bet that if the Republicans were 500 votes short they'd be calling for a new election, and they'd be right," Dean said.

Because the Republicans are well known for complaining about non-existent voter irregularities and contesting elections...oh, wait....

 

[Goobieman]

If they can show unequivocally that machine malfunctions led to Jennings' loss, then there should be a new election. However, so far, they have not proven their case, which means that, at this time, I voted no in the poll.

Never mind that such a thing would require a state law allowing it, if it was allowable at all.

 

[WI Crippler]

You would think in a state thats going to be as heavily scrutinized as Florida, they could get voting right.

 

[danarhea]

Never mind that such a thing would require a state law allowing it, if it was allowable at all.

Actually, if the Democrats refuse to seat the new Congressman, then Florida would have no choice, which I believe is what Dean is referring to. Which brings up an interesting question. Why does the House have such power, if the Constitution provides that the states elect their own Congressmen?

 

[Goobieman]

Actually, if the Democrats refuse to seat the new Congressman, then Florida would have no choice, which I believe is what Dean is referring to. Which brings up an interesting question. Why does the House have such power, if the Constitution provides that the states elect their own Congressmen?

Does the house have the power to refuse to "seat" a representative?

 

[danarhea]

Does the house have the power to refuse to "seat" a representative?

Yes, although it has only been done a handful of times since the founding of the US. I believe that the Supreme Court should take this case, and decide if Congress has this power legitimately, or if it is usurping the power of the states in refusing to seat a Congressman. It would be an interesting case.

 

[Skip]

You would think in a state thats going to be as heavily scrutinized as Florida, they could get voting right.

You are forgetting that Katharine Harris was in charge.