Jan 10, 2008 2:30 pm US/Pacific
Kucinich Seeks N.H. Democratic Vote Recount
CONCORD, N.H. (AP) ―
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Dennis Kucinich is seeking a recount in New Hampshire based on "serious and credible reports, allegations and rumors" about the integrity of Tuesday's results.
AP
Democrat Dennis Kucinich, who won less than 2 percent of the vote in
the New Hampshire primary, said Thursday he wants a recount to ensure
that all ballots in his party's contest were counted. The Ohio
congressman cited "serious and credible reports, allegations and
rumors" about the integrity of Tuesday results.
Deputy Secretary of State David Scanlan said Kucinich is entitled to
a statewide recount. But, under New Hampshire law, Kucinich will have
to pay for it. Scanlan said he had "every confidence" the results are
accurate.
In a letter dated Thursday, Kucinich said he does not expect
significant changes in his vote total, but wants assurance that "100
percent of the voters had 100 percent of their votes counted."
Kucinich alluded to online reports alleging disparities around the
state between hand-counted ballots, which tended to favor Sen. Barack
Obama, and machine-counted ones that tended to favor Sen. Hillary
Rodham Clinton. He also noted the difference between pre-election
polls, which indicated Obama would win, and Clinton's triumph by a 39
percent to 37 percent margin.
Candidates who lose by 3 percentage or less are entitled to a
recount for a $2,000 fee. Candidates who lose by more must pay for the
full cost. Kucinich's campaign said it was sending the $2,000 fee to
start the recount.
Scanlon said his office had received several phone calls since
Tuesday, mostly from outside the state, questioning the results. New
Hampshire's voting machines are not linked in any way, which Scanlon
says reduce the likelihood of tampering with results on a statewide
level. Also, the results can be checked against paper ballots.
"I think people from out of state don't completely understand how
our process works and they compare it to the system that might exist in
Florida or Ohio, where they have had serious problems," he said.
"Perhaps the best thing that could happen for us is to have a recount
to show the people that ... the votes that were cast on election day
were accurately reflected in the results. And I have every confidence
that will be the case."
(© 2009 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)
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