As the non-mandatory recount of votes in Washington continues, voters should consider the recent outcry that every vote should be counted. The fact is that in probably every election, certainly every “major” election, scores of ballots are not counted. There are a number of reasons for this, including not being filled out properly, not being mailed on time, or not including the ballot (in the case of absentee ballots), or the lack of a signature or having a signature that does not match the voter registration card. Some apparently can even be misplaced by election workers. Whatever the case, it is common knowledge that some ballots are regularly not counted. Yet, this has seemingly not been made an issue of previously, or at least certainly not with the determination of this election.
It is also a fact that if Christine Gregoire had won the election handily, as was originally predicted, there would have been no need for a recount, in which case every ballot would in fact not have been counted. It was only when it became apparent that every ballot, filled out correctly or not, mailed in on time or not, signed correctly or not, would be needed to insure victory that this really became an issue.
So what are the real reasons for this apparent concern that every vote be counted? Is it really a long held conviction that every voter matters (no matter who they might vote for), and that every voice should be heard as we all exercise a fundamental and important right in this country? Or is it only important that every vote be accounted for in an attempt to secure a particular political position? There is a great difference between these two, and voters should be very much aware of whose interests are really being considered in this matter.
Jerry Brady
Lake Stevens
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